Monthly Archives: September 2010

Strike duo excite Capello

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Fabio Capello felt hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe’s all-round performance was vital to England’s cause as they beat Bulgaria 4-0 to kick-start their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

Capello was desperate for his men to put in a good performance in front of 73,000 fans at Wembley to atone for their dreadful showing at the World Cup, which saw them exit the competition to Germany at the last-16 stage.

It was touch-and-go as to whether the Italian tactician would keep his job after the 4-1 debacle against the Germans but he remains committed to the cause and Friday’s solid performance was just what the nation needed to get the feel-good factor back around the England team after such a disappointing campaign in South Africa.

Despite promising changes, Capello has kept faith with a number of players who were to blame for the World Cup shambles and they repaid his faith with three points to open up their eight-match Group G campaign (England 2/9 to win Group G).

Defoe opened the scoring in just the third minute and added further goals on 61 and 86 minutes, while Adam Johnson netted the other on 83 minutes as England upped their game in the second period to put daylight between the sides.

Defoe was due to undergo groin surgery this week but postponed his operation to play in England’s two qualifiers, and it paid dividends as he looked lively throughout and linked up well with the excellent Wayne Rooney.

Capello was relieved that Defoe was able to play and praised the way that he took his goals and worked tirelessly for the team.

“Defoe is always very important for us,” he said. “He can shoot with his left foot and his right and his performance was really, really good and his movement without the ball was fantastic.”

The veteran manager was also delighted with Rooney’s contribution after asking the Manchester United hit-man to play a slightly different role than he is accustomed to.

“I played Rooney in a position different than usual,” he added. “He did very well. I spoke with him before the game.

“He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders and from this position to go forward and to be free. The quality of Rooney was really high.”

England will face a much stiffer test against Switzerland away from home on Tuesday but, with Defoe expected to shake off the knock he picked up towards the end of Friday’s match, Capello will be confident of coming home with all three points.

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Rio to get stuck into Toffees

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Rio Ferdinand has been declared fit to return to the Manchester United first-team (11/5 – Premiership Outright) after he came through 45 minutes of the reserve-team’s 2-1 win against Oldham in the Manchester Senior Cup tie at Stalybridge on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old central defender has not played since picking up a serious knee ligament injury following a collision with Emile Heskey ahead of England’s World Cup opener against the United States in South Africa in early June.

However, despite Sir Alex Ferguson initially ruling Ferdinand out until the end of September, his excellent progress saw him pitched in to face the Latics for a second string run-out.

United reserve-team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was very pleased with Ferdinand’s display and sees no reason why he cannot come into contention to face Everton in the Premier League on September 11.

“Rio is always the same player,” said Solskjaer. “It is a while since he has played but he was still calm.

“He has get through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him.”

Solskjaer also played down any fears of a setback when Ferdinand went off at half time, claiming it was always planned he would not play the full match after near three months out of action.

“Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. Now he is available for selection again,” he added.

Ferguson will be overjoyed to have Ferdinand back into contention for selection as United get their Champions League campaign (United 8/1 – Outright) underway against Glasgow Rangers on September 14.

England boss Fabio Capello will no doubt also be keeping a close eye on the player’s developments given that he is already set to miss their opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria (England 3/10, Bulgaria 8/1, Draw 10/3 – 90 Minutes) and Switzerland this week.

However if Ferdinand works his way back to full fitness he will be an important part of the Italian’s plans to try and ensure the Three Lions qualify (England 1/12 – To Qualify) for the tournament in two years’ time.

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Benzema blow for France

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Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of France’s (2/7 to win in 90 Minutes) Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus (8/1) on Friday night with an ankle injury.

The French Football Federation announced that the 22-year-old would not be risked on Friday night in coach Laurent Blanc’s first competitive match in charge since taking over after the disastrous World Cup finals campaign.

Although tests on Benzema’s right ankle showed a slight improvement, it was deemed to be too much of a risk for him to play at the Stade de France.

The ex-Lyon star will continue to receive treatment with the FFF hopeful he may be fit for Tuesday’s game with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A statement from the FFF read: “Benzema will not be included in the team selected by Laurent Blanc to face Belarus. We hope he will be able to return to the squad for next Tuesday’s game against Bosnia in Sarajevo.

Guillaume Hoarau (4/1 First Goalscorer) is expecetd to lead the line against Belarus with Loic Remy (5/1) dropping in behind him with the Paris St Germain striker revealing they were forming a good understanding on the pitch.

“His game completes mine,” said Hoarau. “Everything will depend on what we do on the field, on the spark that we inject into the team’s game. We had a big training session on Tuesday and already the understanding is emerging, even though most of the side haven’t played together before.”

Chelsea star Florent Malouda (11/2) is set to be the most experienced international in France’s starting line-up with several new faces given an extended run, such as Jeremy Menez (11/2) who will start on the right.

Louis Saha (7/2), despite having made only one Premier League start and two substitute appearances for Everton this season, is set for a spot on the bench with Nicolas Anelka having been banned for ten matches.

The former Fulham and Manchester United striker revealed he has used leeches to help his chronic knee problems which have sidelined him for long periods in the last few years.

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Capello slams fickle press

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England coach Fabio Capello kicked off the Three Lions’ Euro 2012 qualification campaign in defiant mood despite the country’s dismal World Cup in South Africa this summer (England 9/1 – Euro 2012 Outright).

The Italian has seen his status downgraded from hero to villain over the last 12 months – hero after a near-perfect run in World Cup qualifying and villain after the limp performances heralded just one win and humiliation at the hands of Germany.

Capello says he can live with the vitriol aimed in his direction from the press, though, and has effectively told his detractors that he is immune from the pressure piled on his shoulders.

Speaking ahead of Friday night’s showdown with Bulgaria at Wembley, Capello blasted his inquisitors by claiming: “You create the god, and you create the monster, no?

“I remember what you wrote about me a short time before this period.

“I live the same moment when you write well of me as when you write badly of me. You have to live with the pressure. It is my job.

“This is my team. We lost one game in the World Cup after one big mistake from the referee.

“You don’t remember this. But after this, your opinion about me changed completely.

“You wrote a lot of things differently. But I live with this situation.”

Capello’s position was the subject of an FA review immediately after the World Cup although the fact he had signed a new deal ahead of the tournament, reportedly removing the Italian’s get-out clause, may well have tied the governing body’s hands.

Regardless, Capello will lead England out against Stanimir Stoilov’s side later before the trip to Switzerland for next Tuesday’s clash with the well-organised Swiss.

Bulgaria’s squad is shorn of the services of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov – he retired from international football in May at the age of 29 after 77 caps and a record 48 goals.

Stoilov can call on the Premier League duo of Stiliyan Petrov and Martin Petrov, but elsewhere there a few household names in the travelling party (England 3/10, draw 4/1, Bulgaria 10/1 – 90 minutes).

However, the same could have been said about Algeria ahead of the goalless draw with the North Africans back on June 18 when England were booed off the field by their own fans, prompting a furious outburst from striker Wayne Rooney (8/1 – England 0-0 Bulgaria).

England will be without Frank Lampard, John Terry, Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Bobby Zamora through injury.

Bulgaria have never won on English soil in five attempts.

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Keane up for Euro 2012 tilt

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Captain Robbie Keane believes Republic of Ireland are a better team now compared to when they suffered World Cup heartbreak at the hands of France last autumn (Republic of Ireland 6/4 – To Qualify for Euro 2012).

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men were denied by a William Gallas goal just when extra time loomed in Paris although Thierry Henry’s blatant handball in the build-up was clear for all to see – apart from the match officials.

Justice was seemingly done, however, in South Africa when Les Bleus internally combusted and found themselves on the way home following a dismal group campaign which saw them beaten by both Mexico and the host nation.

The Republic will be hoping their fortunes are heading in the opposite direction as they bid to reach Poland and Ukraine in two years for the 14th European Championships – a tournament they have featured in just once back in 1988 when they beat England 1-0 in the group stage but failed to qualify for the semi-finals (Republic of Ireland 3/1 – To Win Qualification Group B).

Twelve years on Keane is hoping the potential the side has shown under Trapattoni – the Republic twice held then world champions Italy in 2010 World Cup qualifying – comes to fruition.

However, the Spurs forward admits sweltering conditions in Armenia on Friday night will be testing and that avoiding defeat is the “most important thing”.

Keane said: “With the experience we have now, of course it is only going to make you a better team.

“The more experience you have, the better you are and hopefully the experience we had in the last campaign will stand us in good stead for this one.”

He added: “The most important thing is not to lose. It’s the first game and of course, you want to win every game you are involved in, and that will be the case.

“We are not going to come here looking to get a draw. We want to win the game.

“But the most important thing is certainly not to lose the game.”

Keane will win his 101st international cap in Armenia – his next big target is to score the seven goals needed to hit the half-century mark on the biggest stage – although he appears to be relieved the appearance milestone has been passed after notching a ton of games against Argentina recently.

The 30-year-old continued: “It was great to get the 100th cap but personally I am delighted that’s gone now, just to get it over with and concentrate on the rest of the games.

“We had a great chance in the last campaign – obviously, we just missed out, but hopefully that will make us stronger and more determined now to qualify.”

Elsewhere in Euro qualification Group B, Russia (8/13f – to top the group) travel to Andorra (2500/1) while Slovakia (19/5) entertain Macedonia (20/1).

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Poulsen still adapting to Liverpool life

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Summer signing Christian Poulsen has admitted it will take him a while to settle into life at Liverpool and adapt to the hectic pace of the Premier League (6/4 – top-4 finish).

The Denmark international joined from Juventus before the transfer window closed and the midfielder featured from the start against West Brom last Sunday in what was his first full league appearance for the Reds.

It was also the first time he had started a game alongside star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and the experienced former FC Copenhagen player admitted it could take him a bit longer to gel with his team-mates.

“I feel comfortable here. The match against West Brom was the first game with Fernando and the captain so you have to learn how they want the ball,” said Poulsen.

“Fernando is a strong player and can do things at speed and can do things one against one.

“You also feel Steven and Fernando have a good eye for each other and you saw that against West Brom – I hope it will get even better.”

Poulsen did play in the two-legged Europa League play-off win over Trabzonspor and, after a busy summer with Denmark at the World Cup, he admits he is still scratching around for his full fitness and match sharpness (Liverpool 7/2 – to win a major trophy this season).

“When I came here I had not played since the World Cup so I feel I need some time to get into the rhythm,” added the 30-year-old.

“But last Thursday (in the second leg against Trabzonspor) I did better than in the first game.

“We have a lot of games so with Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani leaving we need quality players for the team because for the next six months we will have a game every four days.

“I hope after the international break we can come strong again and pick up a lot of points up in the coming months.”

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Curbs emerges as top Villa candidate

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Former Aston Villa player Alan Curbishley appears to be in the frame for the vacant manager’s job amid reports he is to be interviewed for the post (Villa 9/1 – top four finish).

Villa are taking their time to name a replacement for Martin O’Neill, who left Villa Park a week before the season got underway, but former West Ham and Charlton boss Curbishley has emerged as a frontrunner.

The 52-year-old has not had a managerial job since leaving Upton Park two years ago, but has been linked with several roles since and could well be very tempted by the Villa post.

Curbs, who joined Villa as a player from Birmingham in 1983 and went on to make 36 appearances for the club, is set to be among up to five men interviewed by the Villa board for the job this week.

Current caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald, who declared his interest in the permanent job earlier this week, is also expected to be considered for the post while the likes of former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, ex-Liverpool chief Gerard Houllier and former Dutch international Ronald Koeman are also in the frame.

Villa (2/1 – top six finish) have said they ideally want to appoint someone with previous experience of managing in the Premier League, so that would give Curbishley, Houllier and Eriksson a distinct advantage although MacDonald is highly thought-of by the board and is a well-respected coach in his own right.

He also appears to have the backing of several first-team players despite the fact his side were humiliated 6-0 at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and were then dumped out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna last Thursday.

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Blues clarify McLeish deal stance

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Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish with goalkeeper Ben FosterBirmingham fans worried over the future of boss Alex McLeish have now been told the Scot is “perhaps inches away” from agreeing a new deal (Birmingham 1/18 – To Stay Up).

Blues supporters woke up on Thursday morning to comments from acting chairman Peter Pannu over McLeish’s demands – described as “a very large amount of money” – and the former Scotland boss’ status in the game when his name was compared with that of Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho.

But fast-forward to early afternoon and Pannu told the Birmingham Mail that fresh terms could be agreed before the Blues’ next game on Sunday September 12 when Liverpool make the trip down the M6 for a St Andrew’s showdown (Birmingham 50/1 – Top Four Finish).

“This is all nonsense,( said Pannu. “We are just perhaps inches away from Alex signing a contract, possibly by next week.

“Our relationship is phenomenal, we are very strong and close, and I want to dispel this notion that there is anything wrong.

“In fact, I spoke to Alex about the Mourinho reference and we laughed about it. In the whole context of the interview I did, it would not have had a sting to it. But to take out the extract like that made it look worse than it was.

“Mourinho came up because I mentioned that the agent who made the initial approach to me about Alex and his contract represents Mourinho.

“Nothing was meant as a slight to Alex in the context of the conversation I had.”

McLeish appears to have been happy to keep a dignified silence over the issue after refusing to be drawn when unveiling latest signings Alexander Hleb, Martin Jiranek and Jean Beausejour.

Birmingham enjoyed a fantastic run under McLeish last season after setting a new club record of 12 games without defeat in the top flight.

The club eventually finished in ninth spot – their best season in some 51 years – to mark their return to the big time in style after a one-year exile in the Championship.

This time around the Blues have started well and are unbeaten in three games, although they let a 2-0 lead slip against 10-man Bolton at the Reebok last weekend (Bolton 13/2 – Relegation).

Such failure to close out a game will not be lost on McLeish who made 77 appearances for Scotland as a central defender between 1980 and 1993.

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Campbell makes England pitch

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Newcastle defender Sol Campbell admits he still feels he is capable of featuring for England during the qualification campaign for Euro 2012 which starts on Friday night against Bulgaria (England 3/10, draw 4/1, Bulgaria 10/1 – 90 Minutes).

The former Tottenham and Arsenal star has won 73 caps for the Three Lions but the last of them came under former coach Steve McClaren with his form overlooked by Fabio Capello ever since the Italian took charge.

Thirty-six later in September, Campbell thinks he can cut it on the big stage although the likes of John Terry, Matthew Upson, Matthew Dawson, Joleon Lescott and Gary Cahill are ahead of him in the pecking order.

“You go to Italy and defenders and goalkeepers can go on and on and on really,” argued Campbell.

“You can roll the names off of the guys who have played well into their late 30s at international level so I think it sometimes goes down to mentality.

“It doesn’t matter where you are at with your age, if you are fit and you are strong and you are physically there and you want it, then you have got the experience so I think there should be no problem really.”

Campbell’s cause has not been helped by the fact he is yet to pull on a Newcastle shirt in anger so far this season.

He did not join up with the Magpies until late in the summer after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer at the end of last season.

But Campbell had a run out for the Magpies’ second string in midweek as he looks to put himself in contention for the home clash with Ian Holloway’s Blackpool on Saturday September 11.

Chris Hughton’s men have made a solid start to the season since the opening defeat at Manchester United while they are also through to the second round of the Carling Cup (Newcastle 50/1 – Carling Cup Outright).

But the Seasiders have also taken the step up from the Championship in their stride and currently sit in mid-table after three games of the campaign (Blackpool 2/7 – To Be Relegated).

Holloway has signed over 10 players since winning promotion via the play-offs with the likes of Luke Varney, DJ Campbell and David Carney late additions to his squad.

Aussie midfielder Carney and former loan striker Campbell were only confirmed by the club on deadline day and both have made Blackpool?s 23-man Premier League squad which leaves room for two free agents.

Under-21 players can also be selected as they do not need to be declared by a club.

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Robinho reveals Milan delight

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Brazilian playmaker Robinho finally managed to put an end to his spell with Manchester City yesterday by completing a move to Italian giants AC Milan – where he hopes to get his hands on some silverware (AC Milan 2/1 to win the Serie A).

The Rossoneri have been overshadowed in recent years by city rivals Inter Milan, with the Nerazzurri securing the Serie A title for the last five consecutive seasons – although their success in 2006 was due to the Calciopoli Scandal, with Juventus stripped of the title – as well as picking up the Champions League and Coppa Italia titles in the last campaign (Inter 14/1 to retain their Champions League title).

In contrast AC Milan have endured somewhat of a trophy drought by their own standards of late, the San Siro side last won the Champions League in 2007, their last Scudetto triumph came in 2004 and the Coppa Italia has eluded them since 2003.

However, Robinho has promised to help the side get back to winning ways and is confident he can secure some silverware during his stay in Milan.

“I hope with the rest of my team-mates to be able to contribute to hand many titles to this club,” he told the club’s official website.

“Milan has great players and it’s a fantastic side with a very important history.

“Kaka has always spoken to me very well about Milan and now I know that the Brazilian players in the team will give me a great hand in adapting to the team.

“I will work very hard to make the fans very happy. I want to bring so much joy to them.”

AC Milan have already made a fine start to their Serie A campaign and have seen their odds shorten after the opening weekend fixtures in Italy.

Inter Milan remain the 6/5 favourites with Totesport but AC Milan are now priced at 2/1 following their opening day 4-0 mauling of Lecce, with Robinho’s compatriots Alexandre Pato (2) and Thiago Silva netting in the victory (Pato 33/1 to be the top goalscorer in the Champions League).

Reigning champions Inter, now under the guidance of former Liverpool and Valencia boss Rafael Benitez, could only manage a goalless draw at Bologna in their first fixture.

Juventus and Roma are seen as the other contenders who could challenge for the Serie A title this season but neither managed to pick up three points in their respective openers.

Roma also drew a blank as they could only manage to pick up a point in their home tie newly promoted AC Cesena, while Juve suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Bari.

The Milan faithful have every reason to be confident this season.

Jose Mourinho is no longer at the helm of their fierce rivals and Inter were left largely frustrated in the transfer market as Javier Mascherano chose to join Barcelona instead of linking up with former boss Benitez for a second spell.

With the £22million arrival of Robinho they have a benchmark signing of their own to welcome to the San Siro and new boss Massimiliano Allegri, although not particularly well known outside of his homeland, is a respected coach in Italy after his exploits with Cagliari, where he implemented an exciting brand of attacking football despite the financial limitations of the Italian minnows.

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