The latest news from the world of football.
Sunday 15 November 2009
Arsenal face being without leading striker Robin Van Persie for a lengthy spell after the Dutch striker suffered possible ankle ligament damage in his country’s friendly aganst Italy.
In the World Cup play-off first-leg action, Nicolas Anelka scored a second half goal to secure France a 1-0 win in Ireland. Russia lead 2-1 against Slovenia going into their second meeting, while Greece and Ukraine have it all to play for after a goalless draw. Portugal were 1-0 winners over Bosnia thanks to a Bruno Alves goal.
Cameroon are back at the World Cup finals, for a record sixth time for an African nation after a 2-0 win over Morocco. They will be joined in South Africa by Nigeria, who overcame Kenya 3-2 and were aided by Mozambique’s win over Tunisia.
New Zealand are also going to South Africa after they beat Bahrain in their qualifying play-off second leg.
Arsenal teenager Aaron Ramsey starred for Wales in a 3-0 friendly win over Scotland. The midfielder made two goals, but scored the best himself.
Northern Ireland lost their friendly match at home to Serbia as PSV Eindhoven striker Danko Lazovic scored the only goal of the game.
Peterborough have named Kettering manager Mark Cooper as the replacement for Darren Ferguson. Cooper has signed a three-and-a-half year contract and is taking his Kettering assistant Nicky Eaden with him to the Championship side.
England midfielder David Beckham played a crucial role in helping Los Angeles Galaxy reach the MLS final in America when his free-kick set up the opening goal for Greg Berhalter. A Landon Donovan penalty sealed the deal.
Charlton beat MK Dons 5-1 to move within four points of League One leaders Leeds. Elsewhere, Huddersfield moved into the play-off places with an impressive 6-0 win over Wycombe.
Dagenham & Redbridge ended Saturday on top of League Two on goal difference after Mark Arber headed the only goal of the game at Accrington.
Saturday 14 November 2009
Frank Lampard has been ruled out for up to three weeks after tearing a muscle in his left thigh while on England duty. The Chelsea midfielder is not expected to return until the game against Manchester City on 5 December.
Wales have named Swansea centre-back Ashley Williams as their captain for the friendly with Scotland. Williams, who was voted Wales Footballer of the Year, is the 11th different skipper used by boss John Toshack.
Celtic defender John Kennedy has been forced to retire from football on medical advice.The 26-year-old has been plagued by injury since sustaining serious knee damage on his Scotland debut in 2004.
Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has pledged his future to the club after signing a new two-year deal. The Denmark international arrived at the Britannia from Aston Villa in 2008 and has established himself as first-choice under manager Tony Pulis.
Garry O'Connor looks set to be out of action for up to four months after suffering complications following an operation on his injured groin. The 26-year-old sustained the problem last season but may now be out of action until March.
QPR midfielder Gavin Mahon has been ruled out until February after being told he requires an operation on his troublesome knee injury.
Kettering Town boss Mark Cooper is the favourite to replace Darren Ferguson at Championship strugglers Peterborough. Cooper, 40, led the Poppies to the Conference North title and the Fourth Round of The FA Cup last season.
Leeds United goalkeeper Shane Higgs has signed a new one-year deal at Elland Road. The 32-year-old has impressed since his summer switch from Cheltenham after keeping six clean sheets in 13 matches.
Rushden & Diamonds are poised to sign striker Jefferson Louis on loan from Conference rivals Crawley Town. The former Oxford man will stay at Nene Park until January
Eastbourne Borough have pulled off a major coup by signing Southampton's Wales Under-21 starlet Kayne McLaggon on a month's loan.
Conference outfit Luton Town have signed Notts County goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington on a month's loan.
Friday 13 November 2009
Premier League clubs have rejected a proposal to allow Rangers and Celtic to join the English top flight. Bolton chairman Phil Gartside had put forward the idea, but it was rejected as neither “desirable or viable”.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was involved in a serious road accident on Thursday morning when he fractured his wrist and injured his pelvis. Cudicini was admitted to hospital after his BMW superbike collided with a Ford Fiesta. His injuries were initially described as ‘possibly life-changing.”
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is hoping to open talks over a new contract with the Premier League champions. Rooney said: "I have got two years left on my contract after this year and I am sure we will be negotiating a new deal in the next few months."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has suffered more bad news on the injury front after Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera were both ruled out for a few weeks with hamstring injuries. Benitez said: “We will have to wait and see how they progress but hopefully in three weeks they could be available.”
Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen has signed a new 12-month deal which keeps him at the club until the end of next season. Sorensen said: "I want to keep playing for as long as I am good enough, fit enough and have the desire. It's fantastic that I have so much to look forward to over the coming months with both Stoke and Denmark."
Rangers have been fined 20,000 Euros by UEFA and ordered to pay the costs of damages to Steaua Stadium after their supporters caused trouble during their Champions League match against Unirea Urziceni last week. Unirea Urziceni have also been fined 8,000 Euros for lack of organisation at the same match
Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney is to stand down from his role in March 2010. Mawhinney, who took over the role back in 2003 said: "It has been a privilege to serve the Football League. I have greatly enjoyed the challenge of helping to shape a better League and I am grateful for all the support that I have received.”
Peterborough United have made approaches for Brentford boss Andy Scott and Kettering manager Mark Cooper over the vacant managerial post at London Road.
Republic of Ireland keeper Joe Murphy returned to training on Thursday and should be available for the vital World Cup play-off against France.
Thursday 12 November 2009
Brazil coach Dunga has called up AC Milan defender Thiago Silva for Saturday's friendly against England in Doha after Benfica's Luisao underwent surgery for appendicitis.
Southampton reached the regional semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after beating Charlton Athletic 2-1 at St Mary’s to make it four home wins in a row for Alan Pardew’s men. Wayne Thomas and Rickie Lambert scored the goals, with Leon Mackenzie replying late on for Charlton.
Real Madrid’s problems continue in Spain after they were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by tiny Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey. They won the second leg with a late goal from Rafael van der Vaart, but went out having lost the first leg 4-0.
Carson Yeung’s ‘takeover at Birmingham City has been confirmed by the Stock Exchange after the company was de-listed.
Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa has been ruled out for up to three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury. But fellow full-back Ashley Cole has been told he will not need an operation on a shin problem.
Hull City’s Ian Ashbee, currently out with a knee injury, has signed a new one-year extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until 2011.
Arsenal Ladies have reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League after beating Sparta Prague 2-0 in the second leg having already won 3-0 away from home. An own goal from Lucie Heroldova and a strike from Kim Little won the tie.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Portugal’s World Cup play-off games against Bosnia after his ankle injury was assessed by the Portuguese FA.
Didier Drogba is out of the Ivory Coast’s final World Cup qualifier against Guinea because of injury. The Ivory Coast have already qualified for South Africa 2010.
Swansea City captain Garry Monk has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2012.
David Beckham's manager at LA Galaxy, former USA boss Bruce Arena, has been named the MLS Coach of the Year.
Wednesday 11 November 2009
German football is in a state of mourning following the death of national team goalkeeper, Robert Enke. Enke, who played for his country eight times, died on Tuesday after being hit by a train. Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said: "We are in a state of shock. It is beyond words."
Tottenham have released their financial accounts up to the year ending June 2009. The club announced they have recorded record pre-tax profits of £33.4m, but also spent £150m on transfers in the last 16 months - a total only bettered in the Premier League by Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Peter Crouch reckons he and Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe can form a deadly strike partnership in England's friendly with Brazil in Doha on Saturday. "I love playing with Jermain," said Crouch. "He has scored goals recently for England just as I have."
Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner is to undergo surgery on the groin injury he sustained in last month's 3-0 victory over Tottenham. The Danish international is likely to be out of action for around a month.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has downplayed fears Fernando Torres needs an operation on a groin injury and is hoping intensive treatment will cure the problem. "Torres was not confident and we have now started a three-week course of treatment," said Benitez. "We are not considering an operation yet."
Blackburn forward Benni McCarthy admits he expects to leave the club after falling out of favour with manager Sam Allardyce. "In my opinion I am better than what we have at Rovers, but unfortunately the manager prefers a different style of player," said the South African.
Peterbrough have confirmed that manager Darren Ferguson has left the club. The Scot led the side to successive promotions, but they are struggling in the Championship and are bottom of the table.
Gus Poyet has been unveiled as Brighton's new manager on an 18-month contract. "This is another challenge for me to take the club where everybody in Brighton wants to be and that's in the Championship," said the former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder.
Notts County are confident they can see off a winding-up order issued by the High Court over an outstanding £100,000 bill. The League Two side's owners, Munto Finance, have lodged the money with the High Court Bankruptcy Division.
York City winger Craig Nelthorpe has signed for Barrow on an emergency loan deal until 1 January.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
Liverpool suffered more injuries in their 2-2 draw with Birmingham City at Anfield. Yossi Benayoun, Daniel Agger and Albert Riera all sustained injuries, to add to concerns over the absent Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who came off the subs’ bench to score Liverpool’s equaliser from the penalty spot. David Ngog had put Liverpool ahead before Christian Benitez and Cameron Jerome scored for the visitors.
Barnsley and Sheffield United also drew 2-2 at Oakwell in the south Yorkshire derby. Darius Henderson equalised twice from the penalty spot for the Blades after Andserson da Silva and then Daniel Bogdanovic had put Barnsley ahead.
Ashley Cole has a depressed fracture of his leg and is expected to be out of action for some time. The Chelsea and England defender has been struggling with the injury for two weeks and aggravated it in the Blues’ 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
Kevin Dillon has been named as manager of Aldershot Town in place of Gary Waddock, who left for Wycombe Wanderers last month. The former Birmingham, Portsmouth and Newcastle had previously been Steve Coppell’s assistant at Reading before they left in the summer.
Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has drawn a line under his training ground row with Nigel Reo-Coker six weeks ago saying he is “too old to hold grudges.” The pair fell out in September and Reo Coker was dropped, but returned to the side and was captain in the 5-1 win over Bolton at the weekend.
David Beckham is unavailable for England’s friendly with Brazil in Qatar at the weekend after helping LA Galaxy reach the MLS Western Conference final. The former England Captain will play Houston in Los Angeles next Friday rather than join up with The Three Lions.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has called up Cristiano Ronaldo for the World Cup play-offs even though he has been unable to play for Real Madrid for two weeks. Ronaldo has an ankle injury and is struggling to be fit for his country’s play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovinia, but Madrid may ask FIFA to intervene.
Monday 9 November 2009
John Terry's late winner gave Chelsea a precious 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The England Captain headed home Frank Lampard’s free kick with 14 minutes remaining to put the Blues five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Hull City climbed out of the relegation zone following a dramatic late 2-1 win over Stoke at the KC Stadium. Matthew Etherington put the visitors ahead in the first half before goals from Seyi Olofinjana and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink won it for Phil Brown’s men.
Louis Saha and Dan Gosling were both on target as Everton ended their wretched run of form with a 2-1 win at West Ham. The Toffees had not won in seven games before their trip to Upton Park but took all three points despite Tony Hibbert’s own goal.
Wigan Athletic were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at the DW Stadium in front of the lowest crowd of the Premier League season so far. Emmerson Boyce gave Roberto Martinez’s side the lead before Clint Dempsey grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot.
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon looks set to miss a chunk of the season after suffering a fractured forearm during the 2-0 defeat at Tottenham. Gordon will now miss Scotland’s friendly game against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Alberto Aquilani is set to make his Anfield debut when he lines up for Liverpool against Birmingham tonight. The £20m midfield man has not started a Premier League game since making the summer switch from Roma after failing to recover from a knee injury.
Welling United are set to appoint former Arsenal midfielder Jamie Day as their new manager following the departure of Andy Ford.