All About Sport

KELANTAN coach B.Sathianathan has been suspended for six months by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) for speaking against the association's policies.
In a July 27 Timesport article headlined "'Away game' upsets Sathianathan", the coach was quoted as saying that it was unfair to allow Terengganu to play their away game" against Perlis in Kuala Terengganu.Action, however, was not taken on T-Team coach Che Ku Marzuki Che Ku Mohd Nor, who also made negative remarks on the fixture in the same article.

Perlis were supposed to host Terengganu at the Kangar Stadium but the venue was unavailable for the match.

FAM then decided to move the match to the Sultan Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, the home ground of the Terengganu team.

The FAM disciplinary committee, headed by Datuk Taufik Razak, suspended Sathianathan on Friday and a letter was faxed to the Kelantan FA (KAFA) headquarters in Kota Baru, on the same day.


Sathianathan, however, was only informed by Kafa yesterday.

The former national coach will now be banned from the team bench until his suspension ends in April.

Sathianathan said he was perplexed and bemused by the suspension.


"FAM informed me, in writing, to give a detailed explanation, a few days after my comments appeared in the papers. I did what they wanted," said Sathianathan yesterday.

"I did not hear from them again until now. I was, however, not asked to defend myself at the disciplinary committee meeting."

Sathiananthan said the suspension will definitely affect his players.

"Now, I am forced to watch my team play from the stands but it will not stop me from giving instruction to my players."

It is learnt that KAFA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who is also an FAM deputy president, will appeal the suspension. FAM officials could not be reached for comments yesterday.

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England coach Fabio Capello has announced that the England post will be his last in football as he plans to retire from the dugout following Euro 2012.
The 64-year-old -- who was considered fortunate to remain in the post after England's disappointing exit in the World Cup quarter-finals -- said at a book signing by a friend in Milan on Friday that he was too old to consider another coaching job.

"At the moment I think of nothing else but Euro 2012 with England," said Capello, who is regarded as one of the greatest club coaches.

"After that I will go into retirement.
"Unfortunately I am old, I no longer have the time: this will be my last experience on the bench."

Capello, who guided AC Milan to four league titles and the 1994 Champions League final where they overwhelmed Barcelona 4-0, has been coach of England since 2008.


While he easily qualified them for the World Cup finals, he received heavy criticism for how they performed in South Africa - eventually losing 4-1 to Germany - and was perhaps saved from the sack because he had extended his contract prior to the finals.

While they are unbeaten in their three Euro 2012 qualifiers they were held 0-0 by minnows Montenegro on Tuesday at Wembley and trail the Balkan country by three points, though, they have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

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THE national Under-23 football team are destined for an early flight home from the Guangzhou Asian Games on Nov 12-25 after being drawn with heavyweights China and Japan yesterday.

With only the six group winners and the two best runners-up advancing to the quarter-finals, Malaysia have little chance of extending their stay in Guangzhou beyond Nov 13.

But the experience of playing hosts China, 2002 silver medalists Japan and Kyrguzstan in Group A should hold K. Rajagobal's team in good stead for December's AFF Suzuki Cup in Jakarta.

Football kicks off on Nov 7 with the final scheduled for the last day of the Games.

MEN'S DRAW -- Group A: China, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, Japan; Group B: Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain, Turkmenistan; Group C: South Korea, Palestine, Jordan, North Korea; Group D: Qatar, Kuwait, India, Singapore; Group E: Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong, Bangladesh; Group F: Iraq, Maldives, Oman, Thailand.

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NICOL David is just a match away from finally exorcising the demons of four years ago after she stormed into the Commonwealth Games squash women's final at the Siri Fort Sports Complex last night.

There was no stopping Nicol as she thumped Australia's Kasey Brown 11-6, 11-3, 11-3 in 45 minutes and will meet England's Jenny Duncalf in the final today. Jenny beat compatriot Alison Waters 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 in the other semi-final.
The win looked effortless but Nicol said it was harder than it looked.
“It may have seemed like an easy win but it was a match of high intensity. She played some good squash but I played really well. I was moving effortlessly and felt really good on court,” said Nicol.

She looked good too as her drop shots caught Kasey several times but despite her good form, Nicol said the gold medal is not definite for her.
“I am in the final and that is a great feeling, especially after Melbourne four years ago. I desperately want to win but so does Jenny and both of us will come charging.”
Melbourne 2006 was a really low point in Nicol's career as not only did she not win gold but also failed to return with a medal after losing the bronze playoff.

“That was a big turning point in my career. I regrouped and took my game to a higher level after that.”
After all her domination of the women's game, and if she wins gold tonight, Nicol will complete the grand slam of squash.
The men's final will also see the top seed in action after England's Nick Matthew proved his class with a quality performance against teammate Peter Barker, beating him 11-9, 11-2, 11-9.

Matthew dominated from the start, frustrating Barker with some quality drop shots and forcing errors, to claim the first game 11-9.
The second game saw tempers flare as Barker lost his cool and punched the glass frame of the court after a decision went against him. Matthew continued attacking his opponent to win the second game 11-2.
Matthew continued the dominance and put on a clinical display in the third game, winning it 11-9.
The other semi-final between Malaysia's Azlan Iskandar and England's James Willstrop was played late last night.

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CYCLING at the Commonwealth Games will be as notable for the big names missing as much as the riders gunning for glory.
A string of top stars have pulled out diminishing the quality of competition but also giving the event a fresh look.

Hosts India are competing for the first time in 32 years but are not seen as serious contenders with Australia and England expected to dominate.


England go into the road events with a team including young world class stars Lizzie Armitstead and Alex Dowsett.

They line up with experienced riders such as Jeremy Hunt, Russell Downing and Emma Pooley, who arrives fresh from winning the world time trial title in Australia.

But the International Cycling Union's decision to use November's European Championships as a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics has meant some top names, including Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy, will be absent.


Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Geraint Thomas pulled out, saying he was not prepared to risk his health in New Delhi, with reports of an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue, as well as issues of sanitation in the village.

Sarah Storey, meanwhile, will be the first Paralympian to compete for England in able-bodied sport at the Commonwealth Games, as part of the track team.

"We have selected a young track team for the Commonwealth Games to give England's rising stars an opportunity to experience a large scale multi-event competition as they're preparing for their first Olympics," head coach Shane Sutton said.


Cycling, first included in the 1934 London Games, will feature 14 track events and two road events, with 30 medals up for grabs for the men and 24 for the women.

Mark Cavendish, of the Isle of Man, who brings the curtain down on his season in Delhi, took a gold in the men's track cycling scratch event in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006.

Seven world champions, led by 2004 Olympic and reigning Commonwealth Games champion Anna Meares, have been named in the Australian team.

They will look to replicate their dominant performance on both road and track at the Melbourne 2006 Games and the recent World Track Championships where they finished as the number one ranked country.

However Mark Renshaw, who was famously thrown off the Tour de France for head-butting a rival, withdrew because of health reasons.

Renshaw has been replaced by Michael Matthews who won the world under-23 road race title in Geelong last week.

New Zealand road cyclist Greg Henderson pulled out over concerns about health and security.

Cyclists were putting their final preparations together at the velodrome yesterday ahead of today's track cycling, when three gold medals will be up for grabs.

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MALAYSIA will face arch rivals Vietnam in a rematch of last year's Laos Sea Games final in the opening match of the Millennium Cup (Under-23 tournament) in Ho Chi Minh City today.

Vietnam are hungry for revenge after they were edged 1-0 by Malaysia in the Sea Games final and the hosts have the perfect opportunity to settle scores in front of their passionate fans.

National coach K. Rajagobal hopes his players will be able to hold their nerves when facing Vietnam.


"It will, no doubt, be a difficult match as Vietnam are a good team. It will be good test for my players. Of course, I want a good result," said Rajagobal, who named 20 players for the tournament.
This is the first competitive tournament for the national Asian Games squad since last December's Sea Games.

"It is a perfect opportunity for me to gauge my players in a competitive environment. Those who impress will certainly earn a place in my Asian Games squad," he said.


The coach is also hoping to use the tournament to find an able replacement for striker Zaquan Adha Radzak, who has been ruled out of the Guangzhou Asian Games with a serious knee injury.

In Zaquan's absence, Norsharul Idlan Talaha and Ahmad Fakri Saarani, who both featured in the Laos Sea Games, will lead the strike force in Vietnam.

"There are other options but we will see how they (Norsharul and Fakri) perform in Vietnam," added Rajagobal.


The national team's other matches are against Iran on Thursday and Singapore on Saturday.

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Roberto Mancini claimed Chelsea will still win the Premier League title, despite seeing his Manchester City side hand the London club their first defeat of the season.

The defending champions, winners of their five opening league games, were defeated 1-0 at Eastlands thanks to a second half goal from City's new captain and Argentina international forward Carlos Tevez.

The result came just 24 hours after City manager Mancini had claimed Chelsea would win the title "easily" although the result did nothing to alter the Italian's prediction.


"Chelsea are still the best team in the Premier League and probably they will still win the title," he said.

"It's not possible for them to score four or five goals every game and sometimes they will have days like today (Saturdaty). I know that.

"For us, it is important we stay focused and think of the next game. We are without a lot of important players at the moment because they are injured.


"We must continue to work hard every game and not think, because we have won this one game, that everything is okay.

"But this should help us work better and realise that if everyone works hard, anything is possible."

The victory by English football's wealthiest club came at the end of a frustrating week in which they had exited the League Cup at West Brom.


City have also had setbacks in the league, losing at Sunderland and dropping home points against Blackburn.

"This is football and this is why football is a fantastic sport," said Mancini.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted City do have the credentials to win the title, a seemingly reasonable assessment given that City have now beaten his team three consecutive times.

"I think so," said Ancelotti when quizzed about their title chances.

"They are growing fast and will have a chance to win the title. But I also think we have the possibility to win the title again."

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declined to single out Manuel Almunia for blame after the error-prone keeper committed two blunders as the Gunners were beaten 3-2 at home by West Bromwich Albion.

After spending the summer locked in a protracted and ultimately unsuccessful courtship of Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, Wenger decided to stick with Almunia as the transfer window closed.

But the Gunners' failure to resolve their hunt for a world class No 1 came back to haunt them at the Emirates on Saturday as Almunia was at fault for two of the Baggies goals.


Wenger, however, refused to point the finger at Almunia.

"You can have question marks over many players if you look at the performance, especially defensively," he said. "Many players made massive mistakes.

"I do not want to come out about any one performance, we were collectively poor.


"You could single out many players. Overall it was a poor team performance and we have to analyse why and respond well."

Almunia gave away a first-half penalty when he tripped Peter Odemwingie but he saved Chris Brunt's spot-kick.

Odemwingie opened the scoring then Almunia allowed Gonzalo Zara's near-post shot past him, then he rushed out too soon for the third when Jerome Thomas tapped in against his old team.


Samir Nasri pulled two goals back but Wenger was disappointed with the performance.

He added: "I believe this game was an exception. Until we played West Brom we had good games.

"I didn't recognise my team. We have to sit down together to analyse what happened. Our performance was not right. It was unusual to see a team as flat was we were today (Saturday)."

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo felt his team were worthy of maximum points.

"I would say we deserved it," said the former Italy international midfielder. "The way we played, we created chances, scored goals and played very well.

"We missed a penalty, I'm not sure about the yellow card for the goalkeeper. It's a question mark whether he should stay on or not.

"We pressed them very high. We managed not to let them play their usual way."

Di Matteo has earned a reputation of his teams playing attractive football, but he is also getting results.

"I don't want us just to be pretty, I want results at the end of the day," he said.

As for West Brom staying at the top, he added: "We have the second lowest budget in the league, you have to be realistic."

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Referee Stuart Atwell's decision to allow Dirk Kuyt's controversial opening goal to stand in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday has been deemed the correct decision by the Premier League.

Liverpool's first goal after six minutes brought howls of protest from the visitors after the referee adjudged Sunderland defender Michael Turner had taken a free-kick when he back-heeled the ball towards goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

The centre-back gifted the ball to Fernando Torres who ran through the Sunderland defence and set up Kuyt to score.


It was unclear if Turner had deliberately taken the free-kick or just knocked the ball back for Mignolet to take it but Atwell, who did not see Turner back-heel the ball, allowed the goal to stand after consulting his linesman.
"When the first goal went in, everyone in the ground knew the free-kick hadn't been taken," disappointed Sunderland manager Steve Bruce told the club's website (www.safc.com).

However, the Premier League's Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) board later reviewed the goal and said in a statement that "the correct decisions were made".


"According to the Laws of the Game, having stopped the game for any infringement the referee is required to 'indicate the restart of the match'," it said.

"In practice, in the majority of cases, referees indicate for the restart by gesturing to players to take the kick. These gestures can be minimal ... there is no requirement by Law to use the whistle to make the indication.

"The ball is then in play when it is kicked and moves. So, in this case, the ball was in play as soon as it was kicked by a Sunderland player."


Two goals from England striker Darren Bent had later given Sunderland the lead before Liverpool captain.

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After handing Chelsea the title the day before, Roberto Mancini watched his Manchester City side promptly snatch it away again as Carlos Tevez's second-half strike ended the champions' 100 per cent record.

In a tactical battle with defences largely on top throughout, Tevez's moment of inspiration just before the hour proved to be decisive.

Chelsea were unable to halt the South American's burst from halfway and he found the perfect finish too, through Ashley Cole's legs and in off the post.

Carlo Ancelotti's men battled hard to force an equaliser, but, just as they had done for most of the contest, they failed to open up a disciplined City defence and came no nearer than the header Branislav Ivanovic struck the bar with before half-time.

It rather showed up the opinion Mancini offered that Chelsea would win the title easily, and signalled City can join Manchester United and Arsenal in harbouring genuine hopes of glory next May as well.

It was slightly strange that the build up to a match between the Barclays Premier League's biggest spenders should be centred around respective injury problems.

Yet that is exactly how it turned out, Ancelotti claiming he had just 12 fit players, which was one more than Mancini.

Defensively, City are struggling with neither Joleon Lescott nor Jerome Boateng - who did make his debut as a late substitute - considered fit enough to start.

And once Wayne Bridge had failed a pre-match fitness test on a thigh injury it was anticipated would keep him out for another fortnight anyway, Mancini went for 19-year-old Belgian Dedryck Boyata, normally a centre-half, to make only his fourth league appearance.

Boyata rewarded his manager with a solid contribution to an obdurate defensive performance from City.

Only once were the Blues opened up properly, and that had nothing to do with the teenager.

In fact it was Tevez who drifted away from Florent Malouda as he anticipated a return pass to Didier Drogba, who had just taken a corner on the Chelsea left.

Tevez's movement gave Malouda the space to curl a deep cross to the far post, where Alex nodded it back to Ivanovic.

The Serbian had two goes at putting Chelsea in front. The first came bouncing back off the bar, giving him a second header to go for, this time Joe Hart making a comfortable save.

Apart from that, both goalmouths were largely underused.

Knowing this was their biggest test of the season so far and without Frank Lampard to drive them forward from midfield, Chelsea were content to play within themselves, keep a fairly rigid shape and let City expend their energy trying to break them down.

For their part, the home side failed to get sufficient support to Tevez, who worked incredibly hard up front on his own but was limited to speculative long-range efforts.

Under such circumstances, it was hardly a surprise it began to get a bit tetchy and Pablo Zabaleta's booking for a reckless sliding tackle on Ivanovic gave way to a period of play scarred by physical confrontation.

The first two minutes of the second period produced as much intense action as there had been in the whole of the first.

After Hart had pushed a curling Nicolas Anelka shot away from danger, Michael Essien might have done far better with the near-post corner than send his header sailing over the bar after being picked out completely unmarked.

City responded with their first meaningful assault on the Chelsea goal, which forced Cech to make a decent low save to deny Silva.

It proved to be the prelude to the deadlock being broken.

Yaya Toure and the nippy Silva deserve mentions for their short pass and running off the ball respectively after Ramires had conceded possession just inside the City half.

The rest of it was all the South American's own work as he ran ferociously at the visitors' defence, jinked to his right, then blasted a shot through Cole's legs and into the net off the inside of Cech's right-hand post.

Twice Essien tried to level from long-range. Twice his radar was way off and the ball sailed over.

Alex glanced a header wide after Boyata had marred his effective performance by getting booked for chopping down Yury Zhrikov, but with Cole also belting a shot into the side-netting, Chelsea ran out of ideas.

After beating Chelsea twice last season as well, City are rather getting to like this.

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Sir Alex Ferguson will take his Manchester United side to the Reebok Stadium today concerned about how Wayne Rooney's personal life is starting to affect his form.

The United and England striker has been hit hard by recent revelations that have seen media scrutiny into his life increase tenfold.

Rooney has scored just twice so far this season, whereas last term he already had six goals to his name by this point and there seems little doubt that he is struggling to cope with his new-found infamy.


"I don't believe he has a confidence problem," Ferguson said.

"But the boy is starting to realise finally, without any question, what kind of focus is on him as a human being.

"He is realising what it means to be at the centre of media attention for non-football-related questions. I don't think the boy can turn a corner at the moment without a camera on him."


United make the short trip to Bolton Wanderers looking to build on last weekend's exciting 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Liverpool.

Yet it is Rooney's form and the attention he is currently receiving that appears to be dominating the United manager's thoughts.

"He can't move without the paparazzi being on him and, for a young person, that is not what you want," Ferguson added.


"You want to play and enjoy your football without that attention on you, because that can be quite exhausting.

"He would like to keep playing with freedom, but the siege of the tabloids can wear out anyone."

Ferguson also revealed that Owen Hargreaves looks to be finally winning his two-year battle with tendinitis.

The midfielder's career has been hugely hindered by a problem that has forced him to undergo double surgery on his knees and has restricted him to just one minute's first-team football in two seasons.

But after watching him in training this week, the United manager believes that good news is around the corner.

"Owen Hargreaves has come back training and has looked very good," said Ferguson.

"After having watched him in training yesterday (Friday), if he continues that way he's going to give me another selection problem, no question about that."

United will go into the contest against Bolton as favourites and history strengthens the idea that they should win comfortably at the Reebok.

They have only lost once there since the advent of the Premier League, with Nicolas Anelka scoring the winner for a side managed by Gary Megson in 2007.

Megson was replaced by Owen Coyle last season but despite the weight of history and the apparent gulf in class between the two outfits, the Bolton boss is refusing to be overawed by the task in hand.

"To beat Manchester United, a number of factors have to come together -- the biggest being that our players have to play well," he said.

"I will be looking to get the maximum out of my group. Ultimately, if they then beat us fair and square I can accept that.

"My disappointment will be if we don't get to our maximum because I know that if we do, we have a real chance of getting points from this game.

"We will be positive like we have in every game this season."

Coyle singled out Dimitar Berbatov as United's main threat in the contest, particularly after his stunning hat-trick against Liverpool last weekend.

"Berbatov is in terrific form at the moment," Coyle added.

"But they are a team full of quality players. If you start to go through their team individually, and look at who you have to stop, we will be here all day. It's a very tough game, a local derby, against some of the very best players in world football. But that's exactly why we're in the job."

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The French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday denied having unfairly targeted Patrice Evra, after the player said he was still awaiting an explanation for his five-match international ban.
"We're not against him, we're treating him as we'd treat anyone," the FFF's legal director, Jean Lapeyre, said.

"Between the meeting of the (FFF appeals) committee and the moment when we formalise the decision and dispatch it, there's a bit of time. You can't do it in 24 or 48 hours.




The FFF appeals committee on Sept 9 upheld the five-match ban handed to Evra for his role as captain in the France squad's refusal to train at the World Cup in South Africa.

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Title-holders Pohang Steelers will be banking on home support to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals today as Korean teams battle to stay in the tournament

The Steelers were beaten by Iran Pro League leaders Zobahan in the first leg and their former Fulham star Seol Ki Hyeon is desperate to remain in contention after he missed the group stages and the World Cup with a knee injury.

"I came to the K-League because I really wanted to play in the World Cup, but now I want to win the AFC Champions League with Pohang," he said.


"The team are in good form and every one of us really wants to help Pohang defend our AFC Champions League title."
Ki Hyeon will spearhead a three-man attack alongside Brazilians Mota and Almir with a semi-final next month at stake against either Saudi champions Al Hilal or Qatar League winners Al Gharafa.

Hilal, who have been consistently impressive under Belgian great Eric Gerets, visit the Doha club on the back of their 3-0 win in front of more than 53,000 fans at the King Fahd International Stadium last week.


Pohang are among a record four Korean clubs competing in the quarter-finals, but one of three to lose in the first legs.

Seongnam Ilhwa, South Republic's most successful club with seven K-League titles, were the country's sole winners after beating Korean rivals Suwon Bluewings 4-1.

They should progress to the last four with towering Montenegrin target man Dzenan Radoncic looking to add to the brace he bagged last week.


Suwon need to score goals, but Jose Mota, the AFC Champions League's leading scorer with nine goals, was subdued in the first leg with the team's best attacks coming through World Cup winger Yeom Ki Hun.

Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 champions, face a tough mission in Saudi Arabia against Al Shabab, who beat the K-League champions 2-0 and could be one of two Riyadh clubs to make the final four.

Shabab have been boosted by the signing of Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera, who helped Universidad de Chile reach the semi-finals of this year's Copa Libertadores, and he will be hoping to add to his clinical first leg goal.

Jeonbuk's loss to Shabab was their sixth in eight games in all competitions, a surprising slump following nine straight victories.

But they remain a fierce attacking threat on their day, with Korean legend Lee Dong-Gook keen to make up for his close-range misses last week.

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Florent Malouda says Chelsea are ready to confound their critics by stretching their lead at the top of the table.

Carlo Ancelotti's side made it five straight wins so far this season with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, a victory which put them four points clear at the top of the table and took their goal tally to 25 in all competitions.But Chelsea have not yet been tested in wins over West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, West Ham United and Blackpool, and sterner tests are around the corner in the form of a trip to Manchester City this weekend before facing title rivals Arsenal at home.

"People don't believe what we have done up until now has been that great because they say we have had easy games," said Malouda - who grabbed a double against Blackpool. "This will show we're ready for any kind of opposition.

"A lot of people see these two games as a test but we're ready. For us it could be our opportunity to prove that we're champions and we will defend our title at any price. Both will be tough opponents but we have confidence in ourselves and the way we are working.

"We're trying to improve on what we did last season. We didn't come back thinking we are champions so it will be easy. We know there is going to be pressure but we have experienced players who are ready to handle that. We're much better under pressure so now we just have to stay calm.

"Manchester City were the only team to do the double over us last season and that could be a big motivation for us. I know they're getting better and bought a lot of good players.

"There will be a big atmosphere and their players will be waiting for that game. Maybe it is a way for their team to show they're ready to challenge for the title so we are going there to defend our title. Last year was difficult for us but we'll go there to try and get the points.

"We're aware that the season is long and you don't win anything in September. We have to carry on and keep our focus.

"I know it's going to be tight until the end of the season and when the other teams drop points we must try to take the opportunity. We're ready to succeed, that's why in training we work very hard.

"We are using our experience of last year and know nothing is easy. We won the league by one point on the last day so we're preparing for the same situation this season."

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas expects to be back in action in two weeks.
The Spain midfielder suffered a hamstring injury as he netted a freak goal at Sunderland on Saturday, the ball being kicked into him by Anton Ferdinand and looping 40 yards into the goal.

The 23-year-old had just been finding his form having returned late after reaching the World Cup final in South Africa.

With Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner all still sidelined, the loss of another key man for a lengthy period would have come as a blow for the Gunners.

Fabregas would not have been included in the squad for Tuesday's match at Tottenham Hotspur, with manager Arsene Wenger again set to use a combination of fringe and youth players in the Carling Cup.

He is likely to miss Saturday's home Barclays Premier League encounter with West Bromwich Albion and the Champions League trip to Partizan Belgrade three days later, but could be back in contention for the trip to Chelsea on 3rd October.

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Everton are expected to sign Azerbaijan teen sensation Araz Abdullayev in the January transfer window.

The Merseysiders' were keen in June and they quickly secured first-option on the 18-year-old Neftchi Baku midfielder after interest from Russian champions Rubin Kazan and clubs in Italy.

The option is valid for two years, but talks are underway about doing a deal this winter.

Agent Tassos Anagnou, who says he is representing Everton in negotiations, said: "I hope that our negotiations are successful and in January Araz joins Everton."

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Sir Alex Ferguson claims that Liverpool are still Manchester United's most-anticipated match despite the Anfield club's recent slump.

Ferguson is preparing his side to meet Roy Hodgson's team today, with the two clubs level on 18 English league titles each.

The Scot admitted that when he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 that his aim was to knock Liverpool "off their perch". While United were pipped by Chelsea to the Premier League title last season, Liverpool finished a disappointing seventh.


But even though Ferguson claims Chelsea are United's main title rivals and neighbours City have once again spent heavily in the transfer market, he insists that games against Liverpool remain the biggest days in his year.
He said: "I say time and again when this fixture comes about. It is the fixture, no doubt about that.

"Historically it's always been that way. I don't need to always look at the history.


"Even industrially, it was always been a competition between Liverpool and Manchester since the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal so it's always going to be there."

Ferguson's interaction with Roy Hodgson's predecessor Rafa Benitez was notoriously frosty.

The United manager maintains he never made the relationship "personal" but is full of praise for Benitez's replacement.


He added: "I've never been personal. You have to examine him (Benitez), not me, I've never been personal.

"I've always enjoyed a good relationship with the Liverpool managers and both clubs have always addressed the situation properly after games. That changed under the last regime, but it's not a big issue for me.

"Roy has got experience and did a great job at Fulham. I've known Roy a long time. We first met in 1987 I think on one of these aborted trips to Malmo when they aborted the game after one minute.

"It was a European tie against Ajax and he was at the game and we went to dinner after it.

"I've known him a long time and he's gathered a wealth of experience in Italy, in Switzerland, Finland and Scandinavia and the job he did at Fulham was extraordinary."

Ferguson claims that United did not follow up the opportunity to sign Joe Cole, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Chelsea during the summer.

"We were approached by his agent at one point but we didn't enter into it (discussions) at all. It was maybe just complicated to get involved in that," he said.

The United manager is set to make a host of changes for the Liverpool game and must decide whether to replace Rio Ferdinand with Jonny Evans, while Edwin van der Sar and Dimitar Berbatov are set to return.

Hodgson is also set to bring back the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard after resting players for the 4-1 Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest, while Cole returns from a domestic suspension.

The Liverpool manager feels the fixture is comparable to the meetings between his former club Inter Milan and Juventus, not that he likes to be reminded of his record in that fixture.

He said: "It compares with Inter v Juventus. The Milan derby was a big occasion but the 'Derby d'Italia', Inter v Juventus, was the real killer one and it certainly compares with that. In terms of the interest it generates in the two cities and the whole country.

"When Inter played Juventus it was something which occupied the thoughts and minds and generated the opinions of the whole country.

"It's a little bit like that with Liverpool and Manchester United. It transcends the north western rivalry and is perhaps even global because both clubs are so big outside of England.

"I didn't like losing, which I did quite often. We did poorly and I would like to change that, it'd be nice."

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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is convinced his side are the most balanced in the Premier League, which is the reason why they keep on producing so many one-sided results.

The Premier League champions entertain Blackpool today having won all five of their games so far.

And with 21 goals having been racked up in those, the expectation is for Chelsea to win by a significant margin once again.


Ian Holloway's side will be aiming to prove otherwise of course, especially as they have already upset the odds by winning at Wigan and Newcastle on their top-flight return.
But Blackpool were also beaten 6-0 at Arsenal last month -- a scoreline Chelsea have inflicted on both West Bromwich Albion and Wigan -- and Ancelotti intends to put out a full strength side following Wednesday's 4-1 win at Zilina in the Champions League.

"You have to propose a kind of football with the players you have and we have fantastic ability up front," he said. "We have to put a kind of football on the pitch to showcase this quality.


"Balance is important in football. If you have players with skill and ability, you can show this balance. You have to find that balance: to be able to attack and defend."

Midfielder Frank Lampard is still recovering from groin surgery so will not feature and defender Jose Bosingwa is also sidelined but Ancelotti will bring back a host of familiar faces who did not feature in Slovakia.

Striker Didier Drogba, who was suspended, is one and Ashley Cole, Ramires, Paulo Ferreira and Salomon Kalou are all expected to return to the starting line-up.


Ancelotti was keen to ward off any complacency however.

"Blackpool are a good team and have won two away games and are showing good skills in the Premier League," he said. "We have to pay attention. We are doing well now and we want that to continue."

Blackpool will be pinning their hopes on striker DJ Campbell getting the better of former England captain John Terry.

"I'm going to be up against a world-class defender but I've nothing to lose," the former Leicester City man said.

"My mentality is that I want to play against these guys and prove I can score against them. It just fires me up really.

"Terry is a great player, like all the Chelsea players, but we want to be on the same pitch as them. To score again and get a result would be nice -- to say the least."

Campbell will be looking to midfield play-maker Charlie Adam to supply the ammunition and the Scot was keen to pit his skills against the league leaders.

"They are the champions and they have some of the best players in the world but we aren't going to make it easy for them or lie down," he declared.

"We will try to win the game, like we did at Newcastle and Wigan. If we're good enough on the day, then great; if we're not, we will reflect and move on."

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Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic will skipper Manchester United in today's clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford, manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed.

With Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs not playing every week, Rio Ferdinand has been the regular stand-in over the past few years and was captain on Tuesday when Vidic missed the Champions League opener with Rangers.

But the United boss confirmed that Vidic will again lead the team out against Liverpool, as he has done in all four Premier League matches so far this season.

"As I explained last week, what we wanted was someone who was consistently available for us," Ferguson told MUTV.
"Everyone recognises Nemanja Vidic would always be there. He has been fit all season and you don't leave him out of the team unless you are going to rest him.

"He started the campaign as captain and it will stay that way."

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Manchester City will make the short trip to Wigan today for a match that is exactly the kind they must win if they are to maintain serious Champions League ambitions, according to Yaya Toure.

Toure, who joined City from Barcelona in the summer, is adapting well to the physical nature of the Premier League and has so far justified the STG24 million it cost Roberto Mancini to sign him from the La Liga outfit.

After beating Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League on Thursday evening, City's confidence will be riding high again following a recent blip.


They lost to Sunderland in the Premier League a fortnight ago and followed that up with an abject display in the 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
After spending over STG100 million this summer, such results, against sides City are expected to beat, do nothing but heap more pressure on Mancini and his team from both fans and the boardroom.

Toure is not immune from those pressures and knows that a strong performance and three points against Roberto Martinez's side would help keep City in the hunt for a top-four finish and maybe even more.


"We know it is going to be a very tough game," said the midfielder.

"Wigan are a team just like Sunderland and Blackburn, they will work hard, it will not be easy for us but the three points are very important.

"Wigan are going to be very confident after beating Tottenham. It is not easy playing a league game straight after a European match, but these are the games we need to win. Manchester City need to finish third or fourth in the table -- that is the target. We have to qualify for the Champions League."


Although he has only played four Premier League games, the 27-year-old Toure already feels at home in England.

"I think I am suited to the Premier League," he added.

"It is not so easy but I have a lot of respect for Chelsea and Manchester United. Manchester City are just starting with a lot of new players and a lot of big players. If we work hard I am totally sure Manchester City can have a good year and join these clubs."

The gulf in financial strength and footballing talent between the two clubs involved in action today is vast, yet Martinez is unruffled by City's threat.

Martinez, who has steered his side to a fine win at Tottenham Hotspur and a good draw at Sunderland in recent weeks, believes City will eventually become a force to be reckoned with but he is hoping that their time is not quite here yet.

"You are always looking at what you are doing rather than the opposition but you look at Manchester City, and you feel it's only a matter of time before they are competing to win the Premier League," he said.

"You just hope that we are playing them at a time when we can disrupt them and not allow them to be themselves.

Victor Moses should have recovered from a foot injury to play for Wigan although the encounter is probably too early for Gary Caldwell as he continues to recover from hip surgery.

As for City, Joleon Lescott has a groin strain and will be unavailable, Emmanuel Adebayor has a dead leg, Mario Balotelli and Jerome Boateng will be absent with knee injuries while Aleksandr Kolarov is also missing with an ankle problem.

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French star Thierry Henry has apologised for an incident during a play stoppage in an Major League Soccer game that injured the goalkeeper for FC Dallas

New York Red Bulls player Henry apologised for injuring Kevin Hartman's (left) knee by taking an extra kick at the ball in the Dallas' goal area during the Red Bulls 2-2 tie on Thursday.

Hartman suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament on the play and is expected to miss at least the next Dallas game, the Dallas Morning News reported on Friday.


FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said on Thursday he would ask MLS league officials to investigate the play.

"I went to apologise because I didn't mean to hurt him," Henry said. "A pure accident. I told him I was sorry. He accepted it. It was one of those stupid things."

Henry ran into the Dallas' keepers goal area "to smash the ball back into the net like I do sometimes".

Henry didn't see Hartman reaching for the ball at the same time and Hartman got the worst of the collision. Henry's hard kick caught Hartman's foot, twisting the knee.

Henry was not penalised by the referee who had already given him one yellow card earlier in the game.

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Two goals and an assist gave Nicolas Anelka a glow of satisfaction as he thrived in a central role to help Chelsea FC to 4-1 win at MŠK Žilina, who were outclassed, Mário Pečalka conceded.

Nicolas Anelka struck a satisfied note after scoring twice and creating another in Chelsea FC's 4-1 opening UEFA Champions League victory at MŠK Žilina.

The French forward, who was employed centrally as opposed to his usual role wide on the right, teed up Michael Essien for the game's opening goal before putting the Group F result beyond doubt with two further first-half strikes of his own. "I tried to do my job," said Anelka. "I was playing as a striker, so I tried to move everywhere. It's always good to score and it was nice to provide an assist as well, so I'm quite happy."

On the scoresheet for the first time in the UEFA Champions League was England Under-21 striker Daniel Sturridge, who was handed a start by coach Carlo Ancelotti in the absence of the suspended Didier Drogba. "I'm very happy," Sturridge said. "The manager showed faith by playing me in this game and hopefully I repaid him with the goal. Obviously the team won, so all in all I'm happy."

A centre forward by trade, Sturridge jumped at the chance to play on the right of a three-pronged attack in Slovakia. "I'm used to playing in the centre, but it's good to learn new positions," he explained. "I am left-footed but the likes of Messi play on the opposite side to their stronger foot so obviously it has its benefits."

Player Rater Top Player Anelka went on to praise group-stage debutants Žilina for their willingness to attack, but conceded that their positive approach was perhaps a contributing factor in their downfall. "It was easier for us because they tried to play football," the 31-year-old said. "They gave us so much room at the back, it was good."

Žilina defender Mário Pečalka agreed that the home side were simply outclassed in spite of their attempts to keep pace with the Premier League champions. "We try to play attacking football in our league and we didn't change that against Chelsea," Pečalka said. "We tried to open them up, but there was a big difference in quality compared to the Slovakian league."

Having reached at least the semi-finals in five of the last seven editions of the UEFA Champions League, Chelsea have the added motivation of a Wembley final next May. One thing the Blues will certainly be able to count on as they bid to go one better than their runners-up finish in 2007/08 is the coming of age of young forward Sturridge: "I turned 21 on 1 September, so I'm a man now."

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Manchester United FC say winger Antonio Valencia will miss "a good portion of the season" following surgery on his dislocated and fractured left ankle suffered against Rangers FC.

Manchester United FC winger Antonio Valencia will miss "a good portion of the season" after dislocating and fracturing his left ankle in Tuesday's 0-0 UEFA Champions League draw against Rangers FC.

The Ecuadorean international, 25, went down after an innocuous tackle by Kirk Broadfoot just past the hour mark at Old Trafford and both sets of players immediately signalled for the stretcher. He has undergone surgery and a club spokesperson told ManUtd.com: "The operation went well.

"A plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obvious significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation and he will be out for a good portion of the season. Antonio is perfectly fine, very positive and very determined."

United drew their Group C opener 0-0 and next visit Valencia CF on 29 September. Before that they have an important Premier League match at home to Liverpool FC on Sunday.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy activated David Beckham from the disabled list on Thursday, making him eligible for the club's Major League Soccer home match Saturday against Columbus.

The 35-year-old former England captain has been sidelined since March 14, when he tore his left achilles tendon while playing on loan for AC Milan.

Two days later Beckham had surgery, and the recovery period saw him ruled out of England's World Cup campaign.

Beckham, England's most capped outfield player, took part in his first full training session with the Galaxy on August 11 and said last week he hoped to make an appearance in the match against Columbus.

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Roy Hodgson made an impassioned defence of striker Fernando Torres after the Spanish World Cup star came under fire in Sunday's drab 0-0 draw at Birmingham.

Hodgson was furious at criticism levelled by former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, now working as a TV pundit, who said that the striker's opening 45 minutes was so poor it suggested he didn't want to be at the club.

Redknapp accused Torres of a "lack of effort" and said "for 45 minutes he has been diabolical".


But Hodgson leapt to the defence of his World Cup winner, despite the fact the striker cut such a forlorn figure for virtually the entire game, giving added credence to rumours that he wants a return to Spanish football.

"I would not share other people's opinion of Torres' performance. He has worked hard for the team. And he was a constant thorn in the side of their defenders," said Hodgson.

"You have to give their back-four some credit. He lacks match training. He missed games at the end of last season and he missed games in the World Cup. I am not at all concerned about Fernando Torres.


"He will get better and better as the season goes on. He was not a peripheral figure. He came into central areas and he created havoc."

Hodgson has also been forced to explain suggestions that he has admitted Liverpool are unable to challenge for the league title this season as it is not a realistic target.

"I do not set targets, so I did not say that. I have never said that we cannot win the league and that is not a target for us. I don't set targets. So I don't know where I am supposed to have said what I have been quoted as saying," he said.


"If you ask me the question can this team win the league I would say I don't know. We will work hard each game and see where that takes us in May. I find it faintly amusing that after four games people are discussing who is going to win the league. We play 38 games.

"I give all other people's opinions credence, but I don't set targets. I am not prepared to make a statement that this team can or cannot win the league."

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish saw his side extend their unbeaten home league run to 17 games, but it was the performance of Scotland international James McFadden, just days after his work ethic was questioned by Scotland manager Craig Levein, that pleased him as much as anything.

"James McFadden has answered some of his critics with that performance. He put a shift in for the team and helped out in midfield. He got some criticism in the Scottish press for his performances up there. He has been the talisman for the national team for a long time.

"It did not go well for him in the last couple of games, but to suggest he is lazy that is nonsense. He is one of the best trainers at the club."

McLeish was unable to give Alexander Hleb, on loan for the season from Barcelona, his debut because of an injury sustained on international duty with Belarus.

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Midfielder Michael Essien says Chelsea can crown last season's double success by winning the Champions League.

The Ghana international has returned to Chelsea's midfield after spending much of last season on the treatment table with a knee injury that eventually cost him a trip to the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Chelsea stormed to the Barclays Premier League title last season and then clinched their first-ever double with an FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth at Wembley.

Now Essien believes the Blues can add the Champions League crown to all the domestic silverware they have won.
Chelsea are confident of getting through their group which includes MSK Zilina, Spartak Moscow and Marseille.


"We have set our targets as high as we possibly can and the aim is to win every competition we enter," said Essien.

"We now have four trophies to go for and we are all focused on giving it 110 per cent.

"You cannot ask for more than three games played, three wins with 14 goals scored and none conceded. That is the reason why I am excited about this season. The team has been together for the last four to five years and the understanding is getting better each year.

"We cannot get carried away and have to keep working hard to win everything. As a player you get the inner feeling that something big is around the corner and I feel the same way I felt last season when we won the double.

"However I am sure we can go one further and add the big one - the UEFA Champions League to our collection of trophies.

"Everyone knows how much winning that will mean to us. As a team we have won every domestic trophy and so it's only natural that we have the hunger for the European trophy.

"That is not to say we don't care about the Premier League, FA Cup or Carling Cup. We want to win every competition we enter this season and we will do all we can to win them all."

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Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United's squad is looking good with the impending return to action of Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand played for the reserves on Wednesday night against Oldham Athletic, the first time the defender had been in action since he suffered a major knee ligament injury in a freak collision with Emile Heskey on day one of World Cup training with England in South Africa.

Anderson, who played 90 minutes in the Oldham match, and Gary Neville are also close to making their United comebacks after spells on the sidelines.

Giggs said: "The squad is looking really strong. We've got Rio to come back in, Nev hasn't played yet, and Anderson is back too. So it's looking really good."

United confirmed that all of their senior players, apart from those out on loan, had been registered with the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's squad list deadline - including Owen Hargreaves, who has struggled for fitness over the last two years.

Giggs believes the number of players available to manager Sir Alex Ferguson may make team selection difficult, but is something United will feel the benefit of over the course of the campaign.

"It's a headache for the boss, but one he would rather have than to be struggling for players," Giggs said. "We'll need everyone because it's a long season. The manager realises that."



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Fabio Capello launches his quest for redemption today knowing only a convincing victory by a makeshift England team over Bulgaria can hush a growing band of critics clamouring for his dismissal.

fter an extended honeymoon where Capello was lauded for presiding over an imperious World Cup qualifying campaign, a familiar storyline has unfolded in the wake of England’s calamitous showing in South Africa, which ended with a miserable 4-1 second round defeat to Germany.

Now, just months after being favourably compared to Sir Alf Ramsey, the architect of England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, Capello finds himself subject to the sort of ridicule dished out to less celebrated occupiers of the managerial hot-seat known as international football’s ‘Impossible Job.’


One tabloid even branded him ‘Jackass’ — above a picture of the Italian wearing a pair of super-imposed donkey ears — following his decision to drop Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere back into England’s Under-21 squad.

On Wednesday, meanwhile, the Daily Mirror called for Capello to be fired next week, regardless of the outcome of England’s opening Euro 2012 Group G qualifiers against Bulgaria at Wembley today and Switzerland in Basel next Tuesday.

“It is obvious that it is over for Capello,” the Mirror wrote. “Everybody knows he should be gone already. The FA knows it. The England fans know it. The players know it. And most of all, Capello knows it.”


In public however, Capello has brushed off the criticism with the confidence of a man who amassed five Serie A titles, two Primera Liga crowns and one European Cup during a glittering career in club management.

“I’ve read and heard a lot of different things but I am focused on my job,” Capello told journalists ahead of the Bulgaria match. “I’m a fighter. It’s my job, I fought for it. I am here because I enjoy my job.

“We must focus on the games we play against Bulgaria and Switzerland — and the future will be to play the finals because England is a very important country to play in the Euros.”


Capello has also dismissed suggestions that his faltering grasp of English has hindered his ability to communicate effectively with his players.

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Jose Mourinho believes he is the ideal person to bring long-term stability to Real Madrid, and has played down the significance of their
disappointing opening day draw at Real Mallorca.

Real were held 0-0 on Sunday while arch-rivals Barcelona swept aside Racing Santander 3-0 opening up an immediate two point lead in the Primera Liga standings. The champions only dropped 15 points on their way to the title last season.


“I am a coach not Harry Potter,” Mourinho told sports daily AS in an interview yesterday.


“He is a magician. Magic is fiction and I live for football which is real.

I’ve only been two months in Madrid.


Do you know how many training sessions I have had with everyone together, including the new signings? Not even 10.” Last season’s treble-winning coach with Inter Milan was brought in to replace Manuel Pellegrini, in an attempt to end a run of two trophyless seasons at the Bernabeu and to break Barcelona’s dominance of Primera Liga.


“My profile as a coach is different to those they have had in recent years,” he added. “If things go badly and I have to leave ... I would have one of the best clubs in the world waiting for me.

“This personal stability allows me to say I am the ideal person to be at Real Madrid because I fear nothing.


Real Madrid need stability and I’m here to give it.


“Real are in many ways a conflict of footballing ideas. Coach after coach after coach ... they need stability.” Mourinho signed a four-year contract in May to become their tenth coach since Vicente del Bosque was sacked in 2003.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s World Cup-winning right-back Sergio Ramos said on Tuesday it was too soon to compare his side to their arch-rivals Barcelona with the Catalan team holding a two-point advantage after just one match.


“Of course we would have liked to have started the season collecting three points,” Ramos told reporters as the Spain squad gathered in Madrid to begin preparing for their Euro 2012 qualifier tomorrow against Liechtenstein.


“We must continue improving. It is too soon to compare us to anyone and to debate who is ahead and who is behind,” the 24-year-old added.


The arrival of Mourinho, one of the world’s most successful and expensive coaches, at the Spanish giants in May has fuelled the already intense interest in the annual Primera Liga horse race between Real and Barcelona.

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Conquerors of Europe and then the world, Spain will be seeking to complete an unprecedented treble when they embark upon their qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Their World Cup triumph in South Africa enabled Vicente del Bosque’s side to emulate West Germany (1974) and France (2000) as the only national teams to have held both European and world titles at the same time.


The challenge now confronting La Roja (The Reds) is to carry that dominance into uncharted terrain by successfully defending the European crown they won in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.


Worryingly for Spain’s adversaries, the average age of the World Cup-winning squad was a sprightly 25.9 and Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla was the only new face in the group named to face Liechtenstein in their first qualifying match tomorrow.

“We cannot afford to under-estimate anyone. We are playing away from home and everyone wants to beat us,” said del Bosque, whose side’s other Group I opponents are the Czech Republic, Scotland and Lithuania.


“We must all work hard to defend our status, and be conscious that we represent a country that is now the world champions.” The irresistible quality of Spain’s passing game in South Africa illuminated an occasionally turgid tournament, but one of the other teams to capture the popular imagination was Joachim Loew’s Germany.


Loew’s young charges fell to Spain in the semi-finals, but not before thrilling fans around the world with their daring football, and Loew has demonstrated his faith in the project by extending his contract until 2012.

“I had to recharge for two or three days after the World Cup, but now a new phase begins,” said Loew.


“We have a tough qualifying group for the championship in Poland and Ukraine, but the working conditions at the DFB (German Football Federation) are perfect, so we are looking forward to it.


“We have a lot of ideas on how to further develop this young team.” Germany face Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in Group A and begin their qualifying campaign in Brussels.

While Loew has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic, the playing resources at his disposal — including Real Madrid recruits Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil — will attract envious glances from England, France and Italy.


All three countries arrived in South Africa with hopes of making a major impact, only for those hopes to turn to dust in embarrassingly abrupt fashion.


France and Italy, finalists in 2006, failed to even make it beyond the group phase and England were routed 4-1 by Germany in the last 16.


The experience was most harrowing for France, whose players attracted universal scorn for their infamous training boycott in protest at the exclusion of Nicolas Anelka for an outburst at coach Raymond Domenech.


The deeply unpopular Domenech has since given way to Laurent Blanc, whose unenviable brief is not only to guide France to Euro 2012 but to do so with a panache that wins over the country’s legions of disillusioned football followers.


“There’s only one way to erase South Africa. It’s results, winning spirit and victories,” said Blanc in August.

Italy are also rebuilding, after finishing bottom of their World Cup group behind Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand, and former Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli is the man charged with the responsibility of restoring the Azzurri to former glories.


Prandelli’s first game in charge was a 1-0 friendly loss to Ivory Coast in London but he declared himself enthused by the endeavours of debutant Mario Balotelli and recalled playmaker Antonio Cassano.


“Cassano played pretty well and for Balotelli it was his first game with the senior team, but I wanted him to be part of this squad and a couple of times he showed glimpses of his class,” said Prandelli.


Unlike Domenech and Prandelli’s predecessor, Marcello Lippi, Fabio Capello held onto his job despite overseeing England’s heaviest ever World Cup finals defeat at the hands of Germany.


England eked out a 2-1 win at home to Hungary in their first post- World Cup game and Capello lauded his players for the way they performed in front of an indifferent public.


“It was a game we had to play with pressure,” said the Italian.


“People spoke about the fans booing and there was big pressure but the new players played with confidence.” England host Bulgaria in their first qualifying match, while beaten World Cup finalists the Netherlands will look to take out their frustrations on perennial whipping boys San Marino.

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Germany coach Joachim Loew has decided that veteran Michael Ballack will remain his first choice captain despite being left out of their first two Euro 2012 qualifying games

“At the moment we have Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira in defensive midfield,” the newspaper quoted Loew as telling the team at a Frankfurt hotel on Tuesday.


“But when Michael comes back and makes it back into the team then he will also be captain. If Michael doesn’t play then Philipp (Lahm) is captain,” Loew is cited as telling the players.


Ballack, 33, has been dropped for the first two games against Belgium away tomorrow and Azerbaijan at home four days later as he continues his recovery from the ankle injury that kept him out of the World Cup.

Bayern Munich defender Lahm, 26, captained Germany in their highly successful World Cup campaign in South Africa, sweeping aside England 4-1 and Argentina 4-0 before losing to eventual winners Spain in the semi-finals.


Ballack, who is now back in Germany playing for Bayer Leverkusen ever his contract at Chelsea expired at the end of last season, has something of a history clashing with other players, as well as with Loew.


Things have not got off to a flying start for Ballack’s return to the Bundesliga, meanwhile. Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 6-3 by Moenchengladbach on Sunday — and Ballack was booed off when he was replaced in the second-half.

Germany also face Turkey, Austria and Kazakhstan in Group A for a guaranteed place at Euro 2012, which will be hosted by Ukraine and Poland.

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Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo injured his ankle in his team’s opening Spanish League match and will be out for three weeks.

Madrid said Monday on their website that the Portugal international was hurt in the 0-0 draw with Mallorca a day earlier.

The 25-year-old Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s 2012 European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and Norway. He will also be out for Madrid’s next league match against Osasuna and their opening Champions League game against Ajax.

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:Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will be out of action for several weeks after hurting his left ankle in Saturday’s Premier League match against at Blackburn.

The Dutch FA said that the forward would miss their European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Finland because “he is likely to be out of action for at least a few weeks”.

Van Persie missed five months last season after injuring ankle ligaments in November while on international duty.

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Chelsea’s Portuguese full-back Paulo Ferreira yesterday announced his international retirement, in a letter sent to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

“It’s with sadness that I report the end of Paulo Ferreira’s time with the national team,” said FPF president Gilberto Madail, in a statement published on the federation website.

The 31-year-old former Porto player has been at Chelsea since 2004 and said in his letter that his decision had been “taken after deep reflection” and was motivated by “personal reasons”.

Ferreira, who typically plays at right-back but can also operate at left-back, won his first international cap against England in September 2002 and has made 62 appearances for Portugal.

His international retirement follows that of 30-year-old Atletico Madrid winger Simao, who last week called time on his career with the Portuguese national side.

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Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was recalled to Holland’s squad on Monday for the first time in two years, the Dutch FA said.

Coach Bert van Marwijk called up the 34-year-old SV Hamburg striker to replace Robin van Persie, who sustained an ankle injury in Arsenal’s match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps and scored 33 goals before quitting internationals after the Euro 2008 quarter-final defeat by Russia but he went back on his decision last season.

He was left out of the squad for this year’s World Cup in South Africa where the Dutch reached the final.

Van Nistelrooy has scored three goals in the first two league matches of the season for Hamburg.

“Ruud looked fresh and sharp and that has all to do that he played the end of the season then had holiday and completed the whole pre-season build-up,” Van Marwijk told a news conference.

“But this was one match and we also have to consider his age as he will be 36 over two years, but when he plays like this we can’t ignore him.”

Holland will start their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign on Friday in San Marino and host Finland next week.

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Javier Mascherano has completed his switch from Liverpool to Barcelona after passing a medical.

The Reds reluctantly accepted a bid from the Catalan giants for Mascherano last week following months of speculation over his future and the midfielder has now signed a four-year contract with the Spanish champions.

The 26-year-old's desire to depart Anfield became increasingly apparent over the summer, and his wish was granted when his potential switch to the Nou Camp was confirmed.

A statement on Liverpool's official website read: "Liverpool have confirmed they have completed the sale of Javier Mascherano to Barcelona.

"The Argentine midfielder passed a medical at the Nou Camp earlier today and has now put pen to paper on his new contract.

"Mascherano made 139 appearances and scored two goals for Liverpool during his three years at the club."

Mascherano, who arrived on Merseyside from West Ham United three years ago, underwent separate tests at the Hospital de Barcelona and at the Nou Camp on Monday, earning the thumbs up from the club's medical team on the eve of the transfer deadline.
"It was an exhaustive medical that lasted around five hours. He is in excellent condition and is physically great," club doctor Ricard Pruna said.

"His cardiovascular level is perfect and he is a player who has had very few injuries. In the last five years he has suffered one injury that has left him with problems."

Mascherano, who has a buy-out clause of 90million euros, will wear the number 14 shirt at Barca, which was previously the number worn by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry prior to the Frenchman's departure this summer.

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admitted after his side's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland that unhappy forwards Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz could be on the move before the transfer window closes today.

Mancini hopes to hang on to Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given who is wanted by Fulham manager Mark Hughes.

But Brazil's Robinho, loaned to Santos in his native country last season, is seeking an escape route and has been linked with Barcelona and clubs in Turkey, while Santa Cruz is another Fulham target.


Mancini confirmed: "I would prefer Shay to stay, but I spoke with Roque and he has two or three situations, and Robinho is the same.

"We have offers for Roque and Robinho, but I don't know whether they will remain with me."

City suffered their first loss of the season, and conceded a goal for the first time, when Darren Bent slotted a stoppage-time penalty underneath England goalkeeper Joe Hart after Micah Richards had fouled the Sunderland striker.


But much of the after-match comment centred on who will be coming and going at the two clubs before the deadline.

Mancini, who has spent around STG130 million (RM635 million) of Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour's vast wealth in the current window, hinted it was unlikely he would add to his squad before the deadline.

But Sunderland manager Steve Bruce wants a striker after selling Kenwyne Jones to Stoke and seeing Fraizer Campbell sustain suspected damaged knee ligaments against City.

Bruce wants Rennes' Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan, but suggested that hopes of reviving his interest in Wigan's French midfielder Charles N'Zogbia could fail because the asking price "might be too rich".

"It looks as if Fraizer has damaged knee ligaments. With that, it's imperative we try to bring a body in because we're short there," Bruce said.

It is over a year since Sunderland last won a league match without Bent scoring and he kept up that trend, much to Mancini's frustration.

Mancini said: "Football is very strange. We played some fantastic football in the first-half and we had three or four great chances, but if you don't score you can lose games like this."

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Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere was arrested in the early hours of Sunday following a high-street row, according to a spokesman for the player.
Wilshere was released on bail following the incident in Kensington High Street in London.

fficers and paramedics called to the scene found a man with minor facial injuries and a woman with a broken arm. Both were taken to a west London hospital for treatment.


Police later stopped a vehicle and arrested four men, two aged 18 and two aged 21, on suspicion of assault.

They were taken to a west London police station and bailed to return in mid-October pending further inquiries, a Metropolitan police spokesman said.

A statement, issued by the Wasserman Media Group on behalf of the 18-year-old, insisted Wilshere was only acting as a peacemaker in the incident.


The statement read: "Jack Wilshere was arrested by police in the early hours following a fracas but was released on bail later.

"The police have made it very clear that he is an important witness to the incident and played the role of peacemaker and is unlikely to face any charges as a result. Jack has made it very clear he will co-operate fully with the police investigation."

He is regarded as one of the promising English players of his generation and made his England debut as a substitute in a friendly against Hungary in August.

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Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will request Fernando Torres is left out of Spain's squad for the internationals against Liechtenstein and Argentina.
Torres made his second start of the season and scored the only goal as Liverpool won their first Premier League match of the campaign, 1-0 against West Brom on Sunday.

The former Atletico Madrid striker has been dogged by injury problems over the last two years and has struggled particularly with a knee problem that hampered him throughout the recent World Cup.


Although Torres played almost a full game against West Brom, Hodgson will ask Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque to leave the star with his club for the next fortnight.

He feels that Torres would benefit from a more intensive training regime, rather than preparing for and playing in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein and a friendly against Argentina.

Hodgson said: "He is playing catch-up. He started his pre-season late and has had to nurse his knee through a World Cup and that goal will be great for his confidence and will help him.


"We're hoping Spain will pass up on his services and give him a chance to continue his recovery and his pre-season really. He needs more training and he needs more matches and you won't see the best of him until further along the line.

"It would be very nice if Del Bosque would look kindly on him and us."


Hodgson has signed Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles and admits he wants to add another striker before the transfer deadline but has ruled out a move for PSV Eindhoven's Ola Toivonen.

He is also hoping to tie up a deal for Fulham left-back Paul Konchesky for STG3 million (RM15 million) once Liverpool youngster Lauri Dalla Valle has passed a medical to move the other way.

"We're very pleased about (Meireles). We've lost some quality midfielders in Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, we've lost Alberto Aquilani on loan, Javier Mascherano," said Hodgson.

"It was good to bring in Christian Poulson and Meireles who are two quality players that will boost our squad. They were much needed because other wise we would have been short on bodies in that area."

West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo confirmed he is interested in signing Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner.

Scharner left Wigan at the end of last season and will complete Di Matteo's transfer business until January.

"We're talking to Paul and we'll see if there's a possibility for us to do a deal with him," Di Matteo said. "I guess that will be the end of our business."

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Tottenham strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe were recalled by England on Sunday for the European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland.
Both players missed England's 2-1 friendly win over Hungary earlier this month but were two of five strikers named by manager Fabio Capello in a 24-man squad, along with Darren Bent, Carlton Cole and Wayne Rooney.

Goalkeeper Scott Carson and centre-backs Joleon Lescott and Matthew Upson were also handed recalls by Capello. Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs retained his place as back-up to Ashley Cole.


Chelsea players John Terry and Frank Lampard were ruled out of the Group G qualifiers after sustaining injuries in club action on Saturday.

England will play Bulgaria at home on Friday and Switzerland away four days later.

The fitness of both Crouch and Defoe, who were part of England's World Cup squad, was in doubt following Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Wigan on Saturday.


Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said he feared Crouch had broken a rib during the match while Defoe had been due to undergo groin surgery before those plans were put on hold last week.

West Ham centre-back Upson was given another chance by Capello after Terry was ruled out with a leg injury, while England captain Rio Ferdinand has yet to recover fully from the knee ligament injury he sustained immediately before the World Cup.

Gary Cahill, Michael Dawson and Phil Jagielka were the other central defenders in Capello's squad.


West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Carson has fought hard to recover from his disastrous debut performance for England -- the 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley in November 2007 that meant England failed to qualify for the following year's European Championship.
His last appearance for his country came as a substitute in the friendly win over Germany in Berlin two years ago.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been demoted back into the Under-21 squad after making his debut for England in the Hungary friendly.

Bobby Zamora also played against Hungary but injury has ruled out the Fulham striker, too. Lampard missed out as Chelsea said on Saturday he would be undergoing hernia surgery today or tomorrow.

There was no room for Tottenham's Aaron Lennon, with Capello preferring Shaun Wright-Phillips as a second right-winger alongside the in-form Theo Walcott.

The squad -- Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (West Brom), Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Man City).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Spurs), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Spurs), Jermain Defoe (Spurs), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd).

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West Ham United are still looking for their first points of the season after defeat at Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney put the home side in front from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after Jonathan Spector had fouled Ryan Giggs. It ended the striker's 13-match goal drought stretching back to March.

Rooney set up Nani for the second on 49 minutes and Nani then turned provider crossing for Dimitar Berbatov to get the third on 69 minutes. The result left the Hammers bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

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Troubled Aston Villa suffered another damaging setback on Thursday when they crashed out of the Europa League with Scottish hopes also suffering a triple wipeout.
Villa, who saw Martin O'Neill quit as coach on the eve of the Premier League kick-off and James Milner sold to Manchester City, were beaten 3-2 by Rapid Vienna in their play-off second leg.

That gave the Austrians a 4-3 aggregate win to follow up their victory over the Midlanders in last season's tournament.


Villa twice led on Thursday and also missed a penalty as they joined the Scottish trio of Celtic, Dundee United and Motherwell in being forced to write off their European hopes for another season.
Liverpool and Manchester City were left as Britain's only representatives in Friday's draw for the group stages of Europe's second tier tournament.

Roy Hodgson's Liverpool overcame a disastrous start to score twice in the last seven minutes to defeat Trabzonspor 2-1 for a 3-1 aggregate victory while City saw off Timisoara of Romania 2-0 at home for a 3-0 triumph.


At Villa Park, Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa an early lead but Vienna hit back through Atdhe Nuhiu.

Emile Heskey then restored Villa's lead with 13 minutes remaining after Stiliyan Petrov had missed a penalty.

But Mario Sonnleitner headed Vienna level a minute later before substitute Rene Gartler put the visitors through in the 81st minute.


"We gave away three really silly goals. We got ourselves 2-1 up and we should have been able to hold the lead for more than a few minutes," said Villa caretaker coach Kevin MacDonald whose side were routed 6-0 by Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday.

"It is very disappointing and we defended very poorly."

Playing without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Liverpool saw their 1-0 first leg advantage last just four minutes in Turkey when Colombian international Teofilo Gutierrez put the home side in front.

He had been set up by Gustavo Colman who had pounced when Dirk Kuyt had given the ball away.

But Hodgson's side regained the initiative in the 83rd minute when Trabzonspor's Giray Kacar diverted a Glen Johnson cross into his own net.

Kuyt then added the second on the night for Liverpool in the 88th minute after goalkeeper Onur Kivrak could only parry Joe Cole's shot into the Dutchman's path.

Shaun Wright-Phillips scored his first goal of the season to help Manchester City overcome Timisoara at Eastlands.

The England winger produced a calm finish in the 43rd minute to open the scoring for Roberto Mancini's side. Dedryck Boyata made it 2-0 in the second half with a close range header to score the first goal of his professional career.

Celtic, who had already been knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers, surrendered a 2-0 first leg lead to go down 4-0 in Utrecht in Holland.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored a hat-trick for the Dutch side with Barry Maguire adding a fourth as Celtic's dismal away record in Europe continued, with just one win in 28 games on the road.

Motherwell lost 1-0 at nine-man Odense, who won the first leg 2-1, at Fir Park last week. Peter Utaka claimed the only goal in the 28th minute.

Dundee United drew 1-1 against AEK Athens but went out 2-1 on aggregate in a match where the venue had to be moved several times.

Elsewhere, Juventus made sure of their place in the next round when Alessandro Del Pierro netted a 53rd-minute winner against Sturm Graz of Austria for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

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Arsene Wenger fears Blackburn will try to rough up Arsenal in Saturday's clash at Ewood Park unless referee Chris Foy stops their aggressive tactics.
Wenger, whose new acquisition Sebastien Squillaci will not be included in the squad following his move from Sevilla on Thursday, makes no secret of his dislike for the Premier League's more physical teams.


Rovers, who are managed by Sam Allardyce, are one of those in Wenger's opinion and when the Gunners were beaten there last season referee Martin Atkinson was berated for failing to provide the visitors with protection, especially when it came to challenges on the goalkeeper.


Wenger is keen to avoid a repeat this time and he hopes Foy will take action if Rovers over-step the mark.

"I believe everybody looks at his squad and tries to find a way where the game is most efficient and we developed one way," Wenger said.

"It is not the only way, I respect every other way -- as long as the referees get the rules respected."


Wenger used Stoke City -- another of his least favourite opponents -- as an example of how not to play the game following the Potters defeat last week to Tottenham.

"I saw some pictures last Sunday; you cannot say any more it is football, it is rugby on the goalkeepers," he said. "The referees cannot go on and accept that because that has nothing to do with the game.

"You cannot have players whose main role is to stop the goalkeepers from catching the ball and not even go for the ball."


Blackburn are sure to provide Arsenal with a sterner test than neighbours Blackpool managed in London last weekend, with the Premier League newcomers suffering a 6-0 defeat.

Andrey Arshavin, the Russia forward, believes it is vital Arsenal win ahead of next week's international break.

"We should win in order to leave for the break without any worries. This will give confidence to the team, " he said. "In addition, we haven't
forgotten about the defeat against Blackburn at the end of the last season."

French defender Squillaci, 30, has been signed to bolster a back-line that has seen William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos all depart during the close-season.

The centre-back will have to wait until next month for a chance of a debut but Wenger is confident he would make an impression.

"He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well," he said. "I believe he will be suited to the English game."

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Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel insists the free-scoring Premier League champions will be happy to win ugly against Stoke today.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have made an astonishing start to their title defence after following their 6-0 rout of West Brom on the opening day with another 6-0 victory at Wigan last weekend.

The Blues, who scored a Premier League record 103 goals last season, have picked up where they left off in May, when an 8-0 win against Wigan clinched the title.


Stoke's defenders, who conceded seven goals at Stamford Bridge last season, could be forgiven for experiencing a few sleepless nights at the prospect of facing Chelsea in this mood.
But Nigeria international Mikel knows there is little chance the league leaders will continue to beat teams with such ease.

As a defensive midfielder, Mikel takes as much satisfaction from a hard-fought 1-0 win as his team's forwards do from a high-scoring victory.


"We all have a good understanding at the moment. I think it's pretty much working out as we want it to all the time," Mikel told Chelsea's website.

"We know we're not going to score six every game, if you manage one and get three points it's all we need, but at the moment it is enjoyable to be a part of it and playing, and I hope it keeps going like this."

While Chelsea are clearly in the groove, Manchester United gave a less convincing display in their 2-2 draw at Fulham last weekend.


It is still early days in the title race, but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was unimpressed with the way his team twice squandered the lead at Craven Cottage to fall two points behind the Blues.

Ferguson will expect a far more dominant performance against West Ham, who have lost their first two league matches, at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Tottenham, fresh from qualifying for the Champions League proper for the first time in nearly 50 years, travel to bottom of the table Wigan with boss Harry Redknapp looking forward to a few days off during next week's international break.

Redknapp led his side to victory over Young Boys in the Champions League play-off round in midweek, but he has no plans to strengthen his squad before the window shuts on Tuesday. Instead he will go on holiday with his wife Sandra.
How Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson must wish he could say the same.
Hodgson's team host West Brom tomorrow looking to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City which raised serious questions about morale at Anfield.
The Reds looked woeful for long periods and Hodgson also has to deal with the potential departures of Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt, who have both made it clear they are interested in offers from Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively.'
Hodgson is willing to let Mascherano leave if the price is right, but he could force the Argentina midfielder to feature against Albion if his future hasn't been resolved.
"Going into tomorrow's game, I think I am entitled to have the player available for selection if he is going to continue to be a Liverpool player," Hodgson warned.

City will aim to build on that Liverpool win when Roberto Mancini's expensively assembled squad travel to Sunderland, while new Arsenal defender Sebastien Squillaci, signed from Sevilla on Thursday, won't feature when the Gunners take on Blackburn at Ewood Park.


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THE Qatar tour next week is one of only two opportunities left for national players to impress coach K. Rajagobal for inclusion into Malaysia's Asian Games squad.
With 16 players from the 2009 Sea Games gold medal team in the frame, competition for places in the under-23 squad to Guangzhou in November is fierce.

Ten players from the Young Tigers squad are also in training and the likes of big striker Izzat Faris Ramlan and young midfielder Gary Steven Robbat are threatening to steal the places of more established players.


Time is not on Rajagobal's side though as immediately after returning from Qatar the players return to their Malaysia Cup sides before assembling again at the end of September for an invitational tournament in Vietnam.

Following the Malaysia Cup final on Oct 30, the team leave for Guangzhou just six days later which puts greater emphasis on Qatar tour.

"This trip and the Vietnam tournament will be a good stage to assess the players but they will also continue to be monitored during the Malaysia Cup.


"But if they don't perform well for their states in the Malaysia Cup, then they will not be called up. What's the point of calling them up when we don't have the time to prepare?

"You must remember we leave for the Asian Games on Nov 5 and the Malaysia Cup final is on Oct 30," said Rajagobal after Thursday's night training session at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya.

Rajagobal was due to name his 22-man squad for Qatar after last night's training session for the friendly matches against a Qatari club on Monday and Oman's national team next Friday. They leave for Doha tonight.
In their final local friendly match, the national team beat KL Plus 3-1 on Tuesday.
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CHELSEA will do more than just play an exhibition match when they visit Malaysia for the third time in eight years next July.


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