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Giggs not finished yet

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Manchester United star Ryan Giggs admits he would love to win the Champions League once more before finally hanging up his playing boots (United 17/2 – Champions League outright).

The 36-year-old has won 11 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions League titles with the Red Devils, and is still going strong after two decades of top-flight football (United 11/2 – FA Cup outright).

The talented winger shows no signs of slowing down and is very much part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans at Old Trafford for the current season, with United trying to hang onto the coat tails of high-flying Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

Whether or not the former Wales international midfielder opts to carry on playing after the conclusion of the current season is open to question as he has talked openly about wanting to go into management.

He was linked with the vacant Wales manger’s position but immediately ruled himself out citing a lack of experience and the fact that he was keen to continue playing at the highest level.

Giggs has won everything possible at domestic level but, even as father time catches up with one of the best players ever to grace the Premier League, the Cardiff-born star admits he is still hungry for more silverware.

“You want to win everything before you call it quits,” he said. “You want to win every game that you enter, every trophy that you compete in, you want to win. You can’t always do it but you’ve just got to try your best to win.

“If I’m only allowed one more, I would say Champions League, but it changes. Tomorrow, I could say the League. But the League and Champions League are obviously massive.”

The pinnacle of Giggs’ career must be United’s treble-winning season of 1999, when his winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Arsenal will live long in the memory.

No English side has completed the feat before or since but Chelsea star Didier Drogba believes that the Blues could win the treble this term as they have begun the season in superb fashion.

Giggs acknowledges that it could happen again as long as lady luck shines for the team gunning for glory on three fronts.

“It’s possible but it’s difficult,” Giggs added to CNN. “I don’t know if it’s harder than 1999 because it was hard then. You just need everything to go for you.”

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Trapattoni plays down Euro fears

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Giovanni Trapattoni believes Republic of Ireland (6/4 To Qualify) still have every chance of qualifying for Euro 2012, despite a disappointing home defeat to Russia.

The Irish found themselves 3-0 behind after just 50 minutes but threatened to take a point with a second-half comeback.

Goals from Robbie Keane and Shane Long reduced the deficit and put the visitors on the back front in the close stages at the Aviva Stadium.

But Dick Advocaat’s men held on for the points and the result now leaves Republic third in Group B (Ireland 10/3 Group Winner), with six points from three games.

Despite slipping behind Russia and Slovakia (18/5 to win Group B) in the standings, Trapattoni remains upbeat about his side?s chances of making to Poland and Ukraine.

The Italian stated: “At the moment we have three teams the same and we start again the qualification. It is important now we think about our quality and our possibilities.

“Russia lost against Slovakia, now Slovakia have lost against Armenia. The qualification is not easy and there’s a long way to go. I’m sure we have the same chance.”

Ireland now face what looks like an important trip to Slovakia on Tuesday, where a positive result would leave them in a strong position in the group.

Trapattoni added: “Slovakia are a good team with good players. But we can win on Tuesday. We just need to understand immediately what happened (against Russia) and why one or two situations occurred.”

Meanwhile, the coach has indicated that he will stick with the Kevin Doyle/Robbie Keane striker pairing, despite withdrawing Wolves’ striker in the second half.

Trapattoni says he had Tuesday’s match in the back of his mind when making the change and feels Doyle and Keane “complement each other” and claims Republic “cannot do without one of them”.

Russia (20/1 Outright Winners) face a trip Macedonia on Tuesday and Advocaat believes his side need another three points to keep them in the hunt for top spot in Group B.

The former Rangers boss said: “We’re back in the group but we still have to do well on Tuesday because if we don’t do that it’s still not good.”

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Brazil consider starlet Coutinho

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Brazil (2/9 in 90 Minutes Betting) could give a debut to Inter Milan starlet Phillipe Coutinho in tonight’s historic first ever meeting with Asian powerhouse Iran (10/1) at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

The teenager has made only a couple of senior appearances for the Serie A side this term, but new Brazil coach Mano Menezes included the attacking midfielder in a youthful-looking squad for the matches against Iran and Ukraine.

He could play off AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato with fellow Rossoneri Robinho supplying the bullets from on the left of a four-man midfield.

Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva and Chelsea’s Ramires are expected to make up the central axis of the formation with Menezes likely to keep faith with the same back four which helped him get off to a winning start against USA in August.

Brazil won that match 2-0 as Menezes attempts to mould a younger squad and rebuild after the disastrous World Cup quarter-final defeat to Holland.

Iran have named a largely domestic-based squad but have star quality in the form of Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam, who was part of their World Cup squad in 2006.

The hot and humid conditions in the Middle East state are likely to be oppressive with the temperature at kickoff expected to be over 32°C.

Several Brazilian players commented on the heat after their training session on Wednesday evening.

“It’s very hot here,” midfielder Giuliano told Globoesporte’s website. “It feels like I’m in a sauna.”

Brazil are 5/1 to repeat the 2-0 scoreline of their last win with a 3-0 win available at 13/2 and 4-0 available at 9/1.

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Hodgson asks for patience

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Roy Hodgson has called on Liverpool’s fans to be patient as he eyes a spending spree to improve his squad in January if the proposed takeover of the club goes through (Liverpool evens – Top 6 finish).

The Reds have agreed to sell the club to NESV in a reported £300million deal but the takeover has been challenged by current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who plan to take the ownership battle to court next week.

All the signs are that the sale will go through, either after the court rules in favour of chairman Martin Broughton, who brokered the deal, or if RBS force Hicks and Gillett to sell up after they default on a loan repayment next week.

Hodgson, along with vice-captain Jamie Carragher, has backed the potential takeover and the Reds boss is already looking forward to improving his squad if, as expected, he gets significant funds to spend in the new year.

“We know what we must do,” he said. “We need new players and investment and know we’re weak in certain areas.

“These things have been the case since I arrived here and we have not had a chance to put it right.”

Liverpool have made a disatrous start to the season and sit in the bottom three after seven games while they were also dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two side Northampton Town.

Hodgson’s position was called into question by some fans following last Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat against Blackpool but the former Fulham chief remains confident he can turn things around and has asked for the Anfield faithful to be patient.

“I ask for the fans’ patience, trust and belief as we will get it right,” he added. “It is clear we need to strengthen in certain areas of the team and bring in more quality.

“I can guarantee that at the end of the season we won’t be sitting there at the bottom.”

Following Premier League defeats to Manchester City, Blackpool and arch-rivals Manchester United already this season, another loss in their next game – at Everton a week on Sunday – will really crank the pressure up on Hodgson but the boss is sure an upturn in form is just around the corner (Liverpool 11/1 to be relegated).

He said: “Sometimes, even after a few games, people see you down there and are ready to pass out, but we’re not panicking. There is a lot more to come.

“A couple of good performances and good wins will put us in a decent position for the season ahead.”

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Owen still dreaming of England call

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Manchester United star Michael OwenManchester United striker Michael Owen says he still dreams of playing for England but knows his chances of featuring in Fabio Capello’s side again look remote (United 16/5 – Premier League outright).

The 30-year-old last played for the Three Lions when he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat to France in March 2008 and he was never a contender for the current squad to play Montenegro in Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier.

Veteran Bolton forward Kevin Davies has finally been called up for international duty and Owen, who has scored an impressive 40 goals in 89 appearances for his country, believes he could still do a job for England (England 9/1 NOT to qualify for Euro 2012).

He told the Daily Mirror: “I haven’t resigned myself to never playing for England again.

“But I’m not stupid enough to get myself worked up before every squad’s announced and then go ‘oh no, the world’s caved in and I’m not in it again’.

“Everyone deals with things in different ways. The first time I wasn’t named in the squad I was really gutted. The second time I was pretty gutted, the next time I was just gutted and so on.”

Owen has only started two of United’s games so far this season but has scored three goals, and he remains hopeful that the call from England will come again at some point. However, he admits he does not expect to see his name in the squad every time Capello confirms his selection.

“I’d love to play for my country again, but I don’t look out for the squad expecting my name to be in it, unless someone phones me to tell me otherwise,” he added.

“I still have a lot of friends in the team and you can’t play for your country for as long as I did and not still have an interest in how they’re doing.”

Owen will be hoping to feature for United against West Brom next weekend after he came off the bench recently to score a vital goal in the 2-2 draw at Bolton.

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Hughes targets massive result

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Aaron Hughes is eyeing a big upset when he leads Northern Ireland (9/2 totesport.com Match Betting) out on Friday night and feels that if the team can repeat its performance from the opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia, then they can upset Italy (7/10 to win, 12/5 the draw) at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland (8/1 to qualify for Euro 2012) have enjoyed a good recent run in qualifying matches, losing just one of their last eight games with debutant Corry Evans scoring the the only goal against Slovenia in Maribor to get the Euro 2012 Group C qualifying campaign off to a perfect start.

However, Italy have won both their opening games to currently top the group, having beaten Estonia 2-1 away before a comfortable 5-0 rout of Faroe Islands in Florence.

Following a dismal World Cup campaign, the Azzurri are going through a transitional phase but Hughes still believes it would be a ‘massive’ achievement if Northern Ireland avoided defeat in their first home match in qualifying.

However, the Fulham defender also insists that a result is not beyond them if they can show the form that earned them the first win of the campaign.

“We said at the start that you try to pick up what you can on your travels. This is our first home match in the campaign and to get something from it would be massive,” Hughes said.

“It’s not a must-win where we need all three points. Even if we come away with a point, we’ve got to remember who we’re playing, one of the top sides in the world.

“So to come out of the game with something would be a fantastic result for us. It would add to what we’ve already got.

“Italy have talented, exceptional players that can cause you all sorts of problems if you’re not on your game.

“But if we approach the game like we did in Slovenia and do the same things we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Craig Cathcart, who made his debut in that opening victory against Slovenia, is currently suffering with a back spasm, which may see Manchester United defender Jonny Evans return to the starting line-up.

That is expected to be the only change with Slovenia match-winner Corry Evans again starting from the bench.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has also stated that Roma striker Marco Borriello (5/1 to be first or last goalscorer) has been preferred to Sampdoria’s Giampaolo Pazzini and Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi and will lead the line for the visitors.

The 28-year-old starts alongside Antonio Cassano and Simone Pepe in a 4-3-3 formation, while Lazio’s Stefano Mauri has been recalled to the side for the first time in three years, and will play alongside Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi in midfield.

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Levein coy on Miller talk

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Craig Levein has refused to confirm or deny if Kenny Miller will start for Scotland against Czech Republic on Friday following reports the in-form Rangers ace will be dropped for the Euro 2012 qualifier (Czech Rep 4/6, Scotland 22/5, the draw 13/5).

The Scotland boss was asked about the newspaper reports in the build-up to the big game in Prague on Friday but refused to give any hint over his team selection, stressing he has yet to decide fully on his starting line-up.

Miller has begun the season in brilliant form in the SPL, scoring 10 goals already, while he was also on target for Scotland against Liechtenstein last time out.

It would be a major surprise if the forward was not in the starting line-up against the Czechs but Levein, in refusing to confirm he would be playing, appears to be hinting that will be the case.

“I am not going to make any comment at this minute in time. The team hasn’t been named, I can assure you of that,” he said.

When asked specifically if Miller (15/2 to be first or last goalscorer) was in his thoughts for the game, he added: “Of course. We will wait and see what happens.

“You can couch it in as many different ways as you want, I am not in any way going to give you any indication at this moment in time.

“The team will be named as usual on Thursday evening as usual, 24 hours before the match.

“I am not concerned at all about anything other than to tell you that I will name the team on Thursday evening.”

Queens Park Rangers striker Jamie Mackie, Wolves’ Steven Fletcher, Burnley’s Chris Iwelumo, Celtic’s Shaun Maloney and Miller’s Rangers team-mate, Steven Naismith, are the other striking options Levein has for the game, should he decide to leave Miller out.

Scotland have got off to a decent start in their qualifying campaign – winning one and drawing the other from their opening two games – and, if they can avoid defeat against the much-fancied Czechs, will head into the Hampden showdown with world and European champions, Spain, next week in good heart.

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Scots skipper rates opponents

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Skipper Paul Caddis has warned Scotland’s Under-21s (5/2 in 90 Minutes Betting) that European Championship play-off opponents Iceland (10/11) will be no pushovers in Rejkjavik tonight.

Former Celtic defender Caddis wants to secure a place at next summer’s finals in the next few days when Scotland tackle Iceland home and away with the return leg at Easter Road on Monday.

Billy Stark’s side finished top of Group 10 thanks to a last-gasp winner from Chris Maguire which ensured victory over Austria at Pittodrie last month.

Caddis and his team-mates were relieved to miss Spain and England in the play-off draw, but he acknowledges that Iceland will be up for the match and likely to provide a stern test.

“I hope the nation doesn’t think that because we are playing against Iceland, that it’s an easy game and we are just going to go through,” he told the Daily Record.

“They deserve to be there as much as we do and if people have been following the under-21s they will see that Iceland drew 2-2 in Germany and then beat them 4-1.

“So they are no pushovers.

“I hear that Iceland are bringing a lot of players back from their senior team which shows a bit of respect for us.

“But no matter which 11 they put out, we know they are going to be a really good side and tough to break down.

“We need to, first and foremost, not concede.”

Iceland have called up seven players who would have otherwise been in the senior side but will instead feature for the Under-21s, including Coventry midfielder Aron Gunnarson, Hoffenheim star Gylfi Sigurdsson and Hearts defender Eggert Jonsson.

Scotland are without suspended midfielder Paul Coutts for the first leg while striker James Forrest and defender Steven Saunders are injured.

But Stark is confident Scotland can keep the tie alive for Monday’s return match in Edinburgh.

He said: “We’re not a team who are set out particularly to defend. We take risks trying to score goals and I don’t see that changing. The way Iceland play it would be very difficult to dominate anyway because they put you under pressure quickly.

“We couldn’t have a tougher match.”

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Bent ready to seize chance

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Sunderland striker Darren Bent feels he deserves a starting spot in England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday (England 1/25 to qualify for Euro 2012).

Bent has scored eight goals so far this season, including his first ever international goal in the 3-1 victory over Switzerland, and the 26-year-old feels he is ready to impress on the international stage.

However, Bent accepts that the decision is down to boss Fabio Capello, but if called on he is ready to fire England to victory.

“Naturally I’d love to start, but it’s not for me to guess what Mr Capello is going to do,” Bent told The Guardian.

“He has his own ideas, so who knows? He can surprise people.

“Knowing what I know already about the way the England manager works, my immediate goal is not starting the game but showing up well in training, because that is what he looks for.”

Wayne Rooney has been included in the 23-man squad to face Montenegro but there are still fears the Manchester United striker will miss out through an ankle injury – and Bent will almost certainly be handed a starting role if Rooney is not fully-fit.

Capello has selected four strikers to face Montenegro, with Spurs’ Peter Crouch and Bolton’s Kevin Davies also included in the squad, and the Italian tactician is likely to partner Bent with either Crouch or Davies if Rooney does not recover in time.

Bent missed out on the World Cup in the summer as Capello overlooked the Sunderland star, despite his impressive goal tally last season, but the striker is expected to be handed his chance to shine for England in the build up to the European Championships.

Bent has been described as “one of the important players for the future” by Capello and after scoring against the Swiss last time out hecould be handed another chance on Tuesday.

Bent admits he was frustrated to miss out on the World Cup and is delighted to have finally been given the opportunity to impress on the international stage.

However, the Sunderland striker insists he is not thinking as far ahead as the tournament proper in 2012, or the World Cup in 2014, as he is concentrating on securing regular action for the national side (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

He added: “The next World Cup is too far ahead to have as a target, so I’m looking to cement my place in the England set-up, maybe get a few more goals, and generally give myself the chance of reaching the Euros (in 2012).

“I’d love to go to a tournament with England, but it’s probably best not to look too far into the future. Just try to do well in the next game and take it from there.”

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Roy revels in Reds takeover

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Roy Hodgson has welcomed the potential takeover of Liverpool by American company NESV amid reports the new owners are keen to keep him on as manager (Liverpool 7/1 – Top 4 finish).

The takeover is yet to officially go through and is subject to a legal battle from current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who believe the £300m deal with the owners of the Boston Red Sox undervalues the club.

However, chairman Martin Broughton is confident the sale will be rubber-stamped, with the Premier League set to give it the green light as early as Friday, pending the legal challenge from Hicks and Gillett.

Hodgson has revealed he has been told to expect the club to be sold to NESV and is pleased a change of ownership is finally on the cards.

“It’s very positive and of course I’m delighted,” the Reds boss told the club’s website.

“It’s been going on a long time and I know how hard the board have worked to set things up.

“I know it’s not easy for them because the owners have other ideas in terms of the sale of the club and what is achievable.

“But I was delighted to hear the news and have it confirmed that it looks like it is going to go through.”

Hodgson’s position as manager has been called into question following Liverpool’s dismal start to the season but it is believed that when NESV do take over they will back the former Fulham chief to turn things around at Anfield (Liverpool 11/1 to be relegated).

The group, which also operates Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing in the States, has claimed it plans to remove all the “acquisition debt” from the club and has a long-term aim to restore Liverpool to its former glories.

A statement said: “NESV wants to create a long-term financially solid foundation for Liverpool FC and is dedicated to ensuring that the club has the resources to build for the future, including the removal of all acquisition debt.

“Our objective is to stabilise the club and ultimately return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies.

“Since 2001, New England Sports Ventures has made successful investments in sports and entertainment properties.

“Our portfolio of companies – including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park, New England Sports Network,- are all committed to one common goal: winning.

“NESV wants to help bring back the culture of winning to Liverpool FC.”

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