All Sports News - Page 6

Barnes angered by Lampard booing

Lampard won his 57th England cap against Estonia at Wembley
Former England winger John Barnes has criticised the supporters who booed Frank Lampard at Wembley on Saturday.
Chelsea midfielder Lampard, 29, came off the bench during England's 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Estonia and was targeted by some England fans.

Barnes, who was booed during his career with the national side, told BBC Radio 5live's Sportsweek: "It is just wrong.

"This is not a healthy situation either for Frank or for the team. It doesn't help him or the other players."


Interview: Former England star John Barnes

Barnes was subjected to plenty of criticism during his England career, which spanned 12 years and won him 79 caps.

Frank has been one of England's most consistent players over the years and he has never let England down

Joe Cole

He believed the boos directed at Lampard will have a negative effect on some of the other England players as well as the former West Ham star.

Barnes added: "Frank is an England player and we all want England to do well, the problem is this sort of thing does transmit to the rest of the side.

"As much as the other players will be happy they are not the ones being booed, it is not a positive situation for any of them.

"Having been someone who has been through that situation where you have been singled out by England fans, it's not a good situation to be in."

Saturday's game was the first time for four years that a fully-fit Lampard has not been picked for the England starting XI in a competitive international.

But Barnes believes he still has an important part to play for England and could line-up alongside his replacement, Gareth Barry, in the future.

606: DEBATE
The very public and embarrassing jeering of Lampard should stop

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

"Barry has probably been England's most consistent player for the last three games and he deserves to play against Russia," said Barnes.

"But long-term, you cannot write off any combination, including Lampard playing with Steven Gerrard and all three of them playing together."

Lampard's Chelsea team-mate Joe Cole has also slammed the supporters who booed Lampard when he came on in the 70th minute.

Cole said: "Frank has been one of England's most consistent players over the years and he has never let England down.

"It is not nice to hear that, it is not nice to hear one of your mates getting that.

"He is a top player, for me he is one of the top players in the world and for me, he doesn't deserve it.

"The only thing I would say he is one of the best players I've played with. Not so long ago he was England's Player of the Year, and rightly so."

McClaren turns to game in Russia

McClaren's side have won their last three Euro 2008 qualifiers 3-0
England boss Steve McClaren's thoughts quickly switched to Wednesday's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in Russia after the comfortable 3-0 win over Estonia.
England are five points ahead of third-placed Russia, who have played a game less, and a win in Moscow will take McClaren's side to the finals.

Of the win over Estonia, McClaren said: "It was a job done.

"The second half was flat. We had one eye on Wednesday but we got through and now move on to the big one."


Interview: England manager Steve McClaren
Interview: England striker Wayne Rooney
Interview: England captain Steven Gerrard

He added: "It was a professional performance and we won it in the first 20 minutes.

"I am delighted with some individual performances. We have to move on quickly."

606: DEBATE
What did you make of Frank Lampard being booed?

McClaren brought on midfielder Frank Lampard for striker Michael Owen late on as he experimented with his formation ahead of the game against Russia.

He would not be drawn if he would play the same team or make changes for a match that will be played on the artificial surface of the Luzhniki Stadium.

"We will review it all on Monday," stated McClaren. "There is good attitude, belief and confidence in the dressing room.

"You would go for balance. You want to be hard to beat and keep a clean sheet but you also want to go there to try to get a result.

"A win would be magnificent but a draw would be suitable.

"We looked at one or two things in the second half and it has given us food for thought.

We've got to go out there (Russia) and attempt to do the job we know we have to do

England striker Wayne Rooney

"We are in pole position. It is up to us."

Lampard was booed from some sections of the crowd when he came on and McClaren said: "No-one likes to see that.

"It has happened a few times. Frank gets on with his football and lets that do the talking but it is disappointing."

England striker Wayne Rooney scored his first international goal since a 4-2 win over Croatia at Euro 2004.

He compared the game against Russia to when England earned a goalless draw with turkey in Istanbul to qualify for Euro 2004.

"We have got the job done today and we've got a similar game in Russia to the one we had to tackle in Istanbul a few years ago," said Rooney.

"We know it will be difficult and it will be a tough game - but we've got to go out there and attempt to do the job we know we have to do.

"It was a nervy night over there in Turkey. We had a few chances and could have won it.

"But we went out there and did a job and I am confident we can do the same again.

"There is definitely the belief and quality in this squad to get the same sort of result.

"There are a few younger players in the squad now - but the same, if not more, quality."

Ten Cate completes Chelsea switch

Ten Cate was assistant at Barcelona before taking over at Ajax
Dutchman Henk ten Cate has joined Chelsea as assistant first-team coach to manager Avram Grant.
Ajax had already given Chelsea permission to open talks with the 52-year-old Dutchman.

Ten Cate was formerly assistant to Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard and helped Barca win the Champions League and Spanish title in 2006.

"Chelsea can confirm that Henk ten Cate has joined as assistant first-team coach," said a Blues statement.

Coach Steve Clarke is also in talks to sign a new contract at Chelsea.

An Ajax statement said earlier this week: "Ajax have reached agreement with the English club about the immediate transfer of Henk ten Cate to Chelsea.

"After being approached by Chelsea, Henk ten Cate asked the Ajax management last week for permission to start negotiations with the Premier League side.

606: DEBATE
Give your reaction to the story here

"After internal deliberations, Ajax granted permission."

Ten Cate took over at Ajax at the start of last season and led the club to joint top in his first campaign, with the club losing out on the title by goal difference.

Ajax did win two domestic cup competitions but Ten Cate has endured a more difficult time this season.

The club went out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round after being beaten by Slavia Prague and were knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Dinamo Zagreb.

Ten Cate's last game in charge of the Amsterdam outfit was Sunday's 2-2 draw with Sparta Rotterdam, when he and some of the club's hierarchy came in for criticism from some fans.

But Ten Cate defended his Ajax record and said afterwards: "What must I say about that? Under my leadership we have played 41 games, gained 92 points and scored over a hundred goals."

London unveils 2012 stadium plan

The stadium will be the showpiece of the Games Enlarge Image London 2012 officials have hailed the design for their 496m Olympic Stadium following its unveiling on Wednesday. "No-one can say we've compromised on design, on sustainability or on the legacy potential," said Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell MP. Work on the 80,000-seater stadium will begin ahead of schedule in April 2008. Once the Olympics are over, it will be turned into a 25-000-seater community venue and could also become home to a lower-league football or rugby club. Animation of how London's 2012 stadium will look How the site was cleared for the stadium A look at Olympic stadiums past and present Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee, told a news conference that the stadium would be a "stadium for a new era". "It's a stadium that delivers on everything we said we would deliver on; a stadium with track and field as its primary legacy; a stadium that will be reduced from 80,000 seats in Olympic mode to a 25,000-seater community base," he said. 606: DEBATE What do you think of the design? Jowell added: "This is a very important Olympic milestone and this stadium is focused very much on legacy and sustainability. "Once the Games are over this will then be translated into a stadium that will not only host grand prix athletics events and other national sport events but will also serve the communities of the boroughs." She also felt the stadium would be a great addition to the capital's sporting facilities. "This augments and complements the other great stadia that London now has - Wembley, the Emirates and the new development at Twickenham," she said. The stadium will be the centrepiece for the 2012 Games and will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics events. The main features of the design are: a sunken bowl built into the ground for the field of play and lower permanent seating, designed to bring spectators close to the action; 25,000 permanent seats, 55,000 demountable; a cable-supported roof that will stretch 28 metres the whole way around the stadium, providing cover for two-thirds of spectators; a fabric curtain will wrap around the stadium structure, acting as additional protection and shelter for spectators; facilities such as catering and merchandising will be grouped into self-contained 'pod' structures. Chief architect Rod Sheard, of HoK Sport, said the stadium would make a big impact, but not in the same way that previous Olympic stadia had. "This is not a stadium that's going to be screaming from the rooftops that it's bigger and more spectacular," he said. "This is just a cleverer building. This is a cleverer solution." The atmosphere inside this bowl, we think, will be pretty special Chief architect Rod Sheard He added that the ability to convert the stadium from an 80,000-seater venue to a 25,000 one once the Olympics and Paralympics had finished was highly innovative and showed great forward thinking. "We've ended up with a very tight, very compelling bowl," said Sheard. "The atmosphere inside this bowl, we think, will be pretty special." HOK Sport is a firm of architects with a proven record for designing sporting venues. It has been responsible for such projects as Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium, the O2 Arena, the Emirates Stadium and Ascot Racecourse. Building work on the Olympic Stadium, which will stand at the heart of the Olympic Park, will have to be finished at least six months ahead of the opening ceremony in July 2012 to allow for test events to take place. The stadium build is being led by construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd in a partnership including architects HoK Sport and consulting engineers Buro Happold. An artist's impression of how the stadium will be pieced together "It's absolutely non-negotiable that it has to be ready on time," said Radio 5 Live sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar. "They've got a large contingency fund if things go wrong but they don't want to spend more than that. "If it's not ready on time, that is probably the greatest shame the nation has faced in years. But it will be." After the Games have finished, the temporary seating will be taken away and the stadium will become a 25,000-capacity venue with a permanent athletics track. An anchor tenant such as a lower-league football or rugby club is actively being sought, but one has yet to be found. London mayor Ken Livingstone said major football clubs such as West Ham would not be able to become tenants. He said: "We made a commitment there would be a permanent athletics facility and we have honoured that commitment. "For West Ham, we have identified a site much better-suited to their needs." The ODA will be hoping for a positive response to the Olympic Stadium design following the criticism that the official 2012 logo received in June. The stadium was initially expected to cost 280m but the costs have been revised because of inflation and VAT.

source:

bbc.co.uk

1st Feb, 2008, Source Bbc.co.uk/sport.

Ronaldo at Arsenal before Man Utd


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said he was "very close" to signing Cristiano Ronaldo before he joined Manchester United in August 2003.
Wenger believes the Portuguese winger Ronaldo signed for United due to the club's links with Sporting Lisbon.

Wenger said: "He was here much earlier - he could tell you that if he wants.

"Manchester United had a partnership with Sporting Lisbon when United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz moved and that made it very difficult."


Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Wenger added of Ronaldo: "I knew about him yes. We were very close."

But he refused to elaborate any further when questioned about Ronaldo's time with Arsenal.

"I don't want to create any story that isn't needed," the Frenchman told BBC football correspondent Jonathan Legard.

"One day I will tell you more about that story and you will be surprised. You will have to ask him how close it was."


Ronaldo has been in sensational form all season, scoring 27 goals as well as setting up countless others for the Premier League leaders.

Since joining Arsenal in 1996, Wenger has established an unparallelled reputation for identifying and buying Europe's finest young players.

RESULTS: England 2-1 Switzerland Northern Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria Wales 3-0 Norway

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used) 2206: Well there we are then. The St George Comprehensive School for Boys do OK in their first outing since Mr Fab took over as headmaster, while Wales beat Norway and Northern Ireland lose to Bulgaria. Hope you enjoyed it all as much as I did (most of the time) and thanks for your 606 comments and texts. 2203: PLAYER RATER
Joe Cole is leading the way at 90 minutes with a solid 7.33. Wayne Rooney is second on 6.99, with David Bentley on 6.69. Wes Brown and Ashley Cole, with 4.57 and 4.76 respectively are the lowest scores for England. Switzerland goalscorer Eren Derdiyok is the top man for the visitors, with a Joe Cole-esque score of 7.22. 2157: "It is a good platform getting off to a winning start."
England striker Wayne Rooney after the 2-1 win 2154: "Fabio starts with a win - not a performance to light the path to a golden future but the minimum requirement for England's new coach. "Capello cuts a menacing presence on the touchline and clearly a few words were spoken at half-time to invigorate his players. "Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole will have impressed, not so Ashley Cole and Wes Brown. They will await the next team with much anxiety unless Capello has detected something the rest of us didn't. "It may also be a more relaxed England next time out, with less nerves and less trying to hard to make an impact on the new coach."
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Wembley 2152: Full-time England 2-1 Switzerland
A winning start for Fab. Wonder what his final mark is after the St George Comprehensive School for Boys first outing. B minus perhaps? 2150: Gerrard is the man of the match at Wembley, where the attendance is 86,857. Italy beat Portugal 3-1. Spain beat France. 2148: "I just want England to win then I'm only two games from winning 1.91."
The Nunny Fox on 606 2146: I say, Ashley Young comes on with about five minutes left. Not much time to stamp his authority all over this one. 2144: Some predictable late Republic of Ireland huff and puff but Brazil hold on to win 1-0. 2142: Full-time Northern Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria
David Healy fires over with the last shot of the match as the final whistle goes and Bulgaria have beaten Northern Ireland 1-0. 2140: Full-time Wales 3-0 Norway
A fine, fine win for Wales. Well done. Spain have taken the lead against France, with Joan Capdevila scoring. 2138: England are finally turning on the style but Gerrard cannot keep his effort on target, blasting over from 14 yards. 2135: Just a couple of minutes to go in Belfast where Northern Ireland are heading for a home defeat to Bulgaria. 2136: GOAL Wales 3-0 Norway
Jason Koumas scores his second of the game, slotting home from 12 yards with a precise low finish. It has been a fine evening for the Welsh. 2133: Ricardo Quaresma scores for Portugal, who now trail Italy 2-1. Hold on, Fabio Quagliarella puts Italy 3-1 in front. Two quality goals. 2132: Ashley Cole is booed as he leaves the field to be replaced by Wayne Bridge. Not having the best of the times at the moment. 2132: "Sack the England manager because of his under performing players. What a waste of an evening. Should have let the wife watch her soaps."
Ian, Coventry, via text on 81111 Ian - comment of the night. Fab has just been heard shouting "press, press, press" on the touchline. 2130: "Wayne Rooney's shooting may be wayward, but he has been the catalyst for a much-improved England showing in the second half. Capello will already be aware of his importance. "Capello is still casting anxious glances towards his defenders though - put your money on defending set-pieces being top of the agenda at his next get-together."
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Wembley 2127: "The first half was boring, it was poor, but this second half we're looking better. The introduction of Crouch has helped because now we have someone up there who can hold it up, which gives us a platform to build from."
BBC Sport's Chris Waddle 2125: Maybe it's just as well England aren't going to Euro 2008. Croatia, who handed out a footballing lesson at Wembley, you'll remember, have just been thrashed 3-0. At home. By Holland. 2123: Fab - doesn't smile much, does he? 2122: (See 2058) A bloke has written in to complain, claiming we have got the price of pies wrong at Wembley. Apparently a pie at Wembley costs a bargain 4.50. Soz. That said, the pie we mentioned was "hand crafted". 2120: GOAL England 2-1 Switzerland
Shaun-Wright Phillips scores his third goal for England this season with a simple tap-in from Gerrard's ball across the face of goal. 2118: "The Eggiman is playing a very good season in the German Bundesliga with Karlsruhe and will probably join Borussia Dortmund in the summer! He is 27 and is playing for Karlsruhe since 2002."
Stuttgart Spurs on 606 2116: GOAL England 1-1 Switzerland
Eren Derdiyok, having just come on as a sub, latches on to a Hakan Yakin pass and slams a shot into the bottom corner past David James. It is his first ever international appearance and comes just after Fab withdraws Joe Cole and Jermaine Jenas for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Peter Crouch - the substitution with the greatest height difference in the history of football. 2115: Robinho sidefoots Brazil into the lead against the Republic of Ireland with a delightful finish on 67 minutes. 2113: Shay Given comes to the Republic's rescue with a brilliant save to deny Brazil's Fabiano. 2112: Rooney shoots wide, Jenas forces a brilliant save from Benaglio. Don't know what headmaster Fab said during the interval - maybe he threatened the St George Comprehensive School for Boys with extra homework. 2110: Rooney tries a very ambitious chip from the edge of the box - we've seen this before. The ball comes to rest on top of the net. Passing to Gerrard might have been a better option. 2109: GOAL Wales 2-0 Norway
Chris Gunter plays a square ball to Jason Koumas, who skips a challenge and fires low into the bottom corner. 2107: Rooney should smash a superb Bentley cross into the net but tries to control the ball and the chance is gone. 2106: Rune Jarstein, the substitute Norwegian goalkeeper, pushes Dave Edwards' effort against the post. This comes just after Jason Koumas strikes the post with a free-kick from just outside the box. 2105: What is it that makes it absolutely impossible for people to regain their seats by the start of the second-half at Wembley? Andrea Pirlo has extended Italy's lead against Portugal. 2104: No subs for England, three for the Swiss. Don't panic, though, the Eggimann is still on. The game is back underway. 2102: Norway's Christian Grindheim wastes a glorious chance in front of goal, sending a free header wide. 2058: "A bloke behind me is moaning about paying eight quid for a cold burger and about 12 solitary chips. I'm eyeing up a "hand-crafted" pie for 6.10."
BBC Sport's Chris Charles in the stands (or the pie queue) at Wembley 2053: The second half gets underway at The Racecourse as Wales look to build on their 1-0 lead over Norway. 2053: Some news from Sevilla. Fernando Torres limps out of Spain's friendly with France after 23 minutes suffering from a hamstring strain. By the way, I watched a film called Kiss of the Spider Woman the other day (it's from the 80s) and was amused to see that an actor in it was called Fernando Torres. 2052: PLAYER RATER
Fabio Capello's debut as England boss is failing to impress users of our Player Rater thus far. Fours, Fives and Sixes are the order of the day with Wayne Rooney top of the pile with 6.64. Joe Cole is on 6.33, with goalscorer Jermaine Jenas on 6.06 - and rising. Wes Brown and Ashley Cole are more empty backs than full-backs according to you lot, with 4.28 and 4.78 respectively. Brilliantly, The Eggiman leads the Swiss rankings with 6.62. 2049: Northern Ireland are back on the pitch - with half-time substitutes Chris Baird, Stephen Craigan and Steve Davis coming on. 2050: The last six "permanent" England managers won their opening games in charge. None of them went on to win a major trophy. Sir Alf Ramsey did - and he lost his first game in charge, against France in February 1963. 2047: Half-time England 1-0 Switzerland
Hmm. Not sure what I've learnt there. "There's no doubt that this manager is a perfectionist. While Capello will be delighted England are 1-0 up, there will be a whole heap of things he will want to address from that first half."
BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson 2044: Luca Toni puts Italy ahead against Portugal. Wonder how Fab feels about that. Not bothered, probably. 2044: "Now we will win the World Cup."
hando88 on 606 The changing mood of a nation. 2041: GOAL England 1-0 Switzerland
Excellent work from Joe Cole, who collects a superb pass from Gerrard and beats his man before passing the ball for Jermaine Jenas to slot home into an empty net from six yards. 2040: Gerrard plays in Joe Cole but his angled strike from 18 yards is saved by Benaglio. Signs of improvement. 2038: "Forget about the new manager, the new players and the new system - England are just not passing it to each other, which would kind of help..."
BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson Almost excitement at Wembley as Joe Cole forces a save with a 20-yard shot. Almost. This has been rubbish. 2037: "Some good early body language from Capello when he breaks the shackles of his trademark arms folded stance. A depressed walk back to the dug-out after careless defending - not the way for any England player to find a place in his affections - and an arch of the back as David Bentley just fails to make contact at the far post. "Switzerland almost score from a set-piece - it may take more than a few training sessions at Camp Capello and a ban on golf to sort out that old England bugbear."
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Wembley 2036: Half-time
In Wales and Northern Ireland. 2032: Jenas cuts in from the right - a very promising position but a shocking pass and the chance is gone. "There's only one David Beckham." Wembley's words, not mine. 2031: Morten Gamst Pederson has Norway's first real chance driving into the side-netting. A scrappy enough opening half-hour at Croke Park. Republic holding their own possession wise but they are giving the Brazilian defence few problems. Brazil look more threatening in the final third. 2030: Very relaxing. Tranquillo Barnetta smashes a free-kick wide of the England coach. England cannot keep the ball and are very much on the back foot. 2029: The Eggimann almost puts the Swiss in front but he cannot quite get enough purchase on to a flick-on by Senderos and the ball goes wide. 2027: GOAL Northern Ireland 0-1 Bulgaria
Bulgaria are in front thanks to an own goal as Martin Petrov's shot is turned in by defender Jonny Evans who was trying to keep the ball out. 2025: "Wes Brown is having a shocker."
Anonymous via text on 81111 No need to remain anonymous on that one. The man to my left, Stevo, is randomly throwing chocolate coins at me, like a Roman emperor or someone feeding the seals at the zoo. 2024: "I think the Swiss have settled down a bit now. They've had a couple of nice attacks in the last couple of minutes, with some slick passing and they're looking a decent side at the moment."
Chris Waddle on BBC Radio 5 Live 2023: A chance for Northern Ireland but big Burnley lad Kyle Lafferty fails to make a decent contact on Chris Brunt's right-wing cross. 2020: England forward Rooney connects at the near post but cannot keep his shot on target and it flies into the side netting. Less than convincing by England so far, laboured one might say. 2018: "For all the talk of one playing off the striker and whatever, the formation is nothing more and nothing less than 4-5-1."
Chris Waddle on BBC Radio 5 Live 2016: Northern Ireland are on the back foot, but the Windsor Park fans are staying upbeat - jumping up and down and singing one of their favourites called 'Let's all do the bouncey'. 2015: "Wembley is subdued - although there is a buzz as Capello makes a slow and menacing march from his seat to the edge of his technical area to get a closer look at the early exchanges. "Capello has wisely dampened over-expectation, although predictably it is Wayne Rooney who looks most likely to provide the early inroads into Switzerland's defence. Some England players look a nervous - maybe a little over-anxious to make a swift impression on the Italian."
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Wembley 2014: Rooney is played through by Joe Cole and tries to lift the ball over keeper Diego Benaglio, who saves. 2012: "I have to say, I wouldn't want to run into Capello in a dark alley."
yorker_129_7 on 606 Fab in a dark alley scary? Come on mate. What sort of area do you live in? A massive mean-looking geezer with a big scar down his cheek and a machete in his hand is scary but a sharp-dressed middle-aged Italian? 2009: Holland are now winning 2-0 in Croatia. After a lot of early huff and puff at Croke Park, Brazil have a strong penalty claim turned down in the 15th minute when Diego is challenged by Richard Dunne. 2007: A very scrappy start at Wembley. The St George Comprehensive School for Boys team gives the ball away close to their own goal twice and Tranquillo Barnetta shoots at goal. Fab is out of his seat already. 2003: GOAL: Wales 1-0 Norway
Carl Fletcher scores his first ever goal for Wales after a great through-ball by Freddy Eastwood. 2000: The odd voice can be heard at Wembley during what seems like a short minute's silence. The vast majority remain silent but there is always one moron (although there did not appear to be in either Wales or Ireland). The game starts. 1959: Bulgaria are starting to look threatening and NI keeper Maik Taylor somehow keeps a Lazarov flick. 1958: Fab does not sing the national anthem. Stuart Pearce does it for both of them. 1957: Another well-observed minute's silence in memory of Munich. A great atmosphere at Croke Park with plenty of Irish-based Brazilians in the crowd. 1956: The lengthy Swiss anthem is not booed at all. Maybe Fab has told the crowd to behave as well as his players. 1954: Northern Ireland's record goalscorer David Healy has his first crack at goal but the shot sails wide. 1952: The England and Switzerland teams are in the tunnel at Wembley. Eggiman is amongst them. An argument has broken out in the office - Coo coo ca choo or goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob? 1949: (See 1935) "Any chance you can wish Willie Conquer all the best at the Northern Ireland versus Bulgaria match. It is his first for Fifa running the line and having knowing him for 17 years and being a good mate he deserves his chance GO CONK do Scotland proud."
superStevethesheep on 606 GO CONK GO. 1947: The game starts in Northern Ireland after an impeccably observed minute's silence. Really excellent. The game at Wales is under way as well after another superbly respected minute's silence. 1944: Switzerland line up as follows - Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Eggiman, Spycher, Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Yakin, Gygax, Nkufo. Anyone know much about the Eggiman? 1943: "Ah - we're hopelessly stuck on the tube system, what is working of it at least - any chance of a delayed kick-off?"
Anonymous via text on 81111 I'll just get on the phone to Fab. My wife is having trouble getting home from the gym. Called to tell me that when I was getting my head around the 4-1-4-1. 1938: Chacor is in Singapore. Lucky you. And don't throw your chewing gum on the floor! 1937: "Just woke up, it's 3:33 am. And whilst I was meaning to watch England play Switzerland on TV you've made my day with the news that I can lie in bed and watch Northern Ireland. Thank you Paul!"
Chacor on 606 Where are you Chacor? It is not very often that we can say this, but the Northern Ireland match is available live on the website to users from all over planet earth. Check it! 1935: One of the assistant referees at Windsor Park is named William Conquer(er) - he's from Scotland. 1930: WALES TEAM NEWS
Wales boss John Toshack generally favours a five-man defence but instead opts for a back four at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. Craig Morgan and Lewin Nyatanga are paired in defence, while Wales played a five-strong midfield with Wolves Freddy Eastwood as the lone striker. Liverpool defender John Arne Riise plays for Norway, as does Aston Villa front man John Carew and Fulham's two transfer window signings Erik Nevland and Brede Hangeland. 1926: "Wembley's deafening announcer - who somehow survived the cull that claimed Steve McClaren and his England backroom staff - over-zealously announces the arrival of new coach Fabio Capello at pitchside. "Capello, despite warm applause, does not move a muscle as he watches his new charges warm up. Not even a wave of acknowledgement for the fans - he looks serious and he is serious. It is hard to imagine this man asking to borrow an umbrella McClaren-style should the rain arrive."
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Wembley What, no wally with the brolly? 1925: "Finally. An England selection based on form."
Rees via text on 81111 Fab. 1922: Did you know that Bond girl Ursula Andress is Swiss? She obviously laid off the fondue for that scene-stealing role in Dr No and perhaps enjoyed a spot of sking in The Alps to keep in shape. Bet she had several of those famous Swiss Banks willing to give her an account. Problem was, when it came to choosing she remained steadfastly neutral and couldn't make her mind up. 1920: The England team has eight changes from the side that lost to Croatia - only skipper Gerrard, Barry and Joe Cole survive. That is making your mark early doors. Fab. 1915: ENGLAND FORMATION UPDATE
Right, the latest on the England formation is that they will line up 4-1-4-1. This involves Barry shielding the back four, and then - from left to right across midfield - Joe Cole, Jenas, Gerrard and Bentley. Rooney is up front on his own. 1911: NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM NEWS
With Damien Johnson returning from injury, Steve Davis has to make do with a place on the bench. NI: Taylor, McAuley, McCartney, Hughes, Evans, Clingan, Gillespie, Johnson, Healy, Lafferty, Brunt. 1910: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Munich aircrash that killed 23 people, including eight members of the Manchester United team on the plane. There will be a minute's silence at Wembley before the match against Switzerland and at Windsor Park in Northern Ireland in remembrance of those who perished. 1906: BBC Sport's Chris Charles informs us that the chant doing the rounds outside Wembley at the moment is "you can stick your toblerone up your...." I'm sorry, we'll have to end it there. 1903: Further word reaching us that Jenas may play on the left with Barry inside. Jenas has not started for England since they played Colombia on their tour of the USA in May 2005. Today all sees the first senior start for Bentley the rhythm ace. 1901: If Capello is headmaster of the St George Comprehensive School for Boys then what subject does Ray Clemence teach? 1900: If you are a fan of Northern Ireland logging on to the internet from some far-flung corner of the world, or maybe just stuck in a windowless office with poor lighting, then I have some very good news for you. It is not very often that we can say this, but the match is available live on the website to users from all over planet earth. Check it! Sorry Wales fans, cannot make the same boast about your game. 1855: ENGLAND TEAM NEWS
Fabio Capello's first line-up sees Wayne Rooney up front with Joe Cole slightly deeper. Midfield sees some interesting selections with Jermaine Jenas on the left and David Bentley on the right, skipper Steven Gerrard in the centre alongside Gareth Barry. Matthew Upson starts in the centre of defence along with Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown is at right-back and Ashley Cole at left-back. England: James, Brown, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Bentley, Jenas, Gerrard, Barry, J.Cole, Rooney 1850: Lots of other tasty friendlies across Europe tonight as several nations gear up for some tournament that takes place in Austria and Switzerland this summer. Croatia (wince quickly, stop wincing, it's behind you now) play the Dutch, Italy take on Portugal and Spain meet France. There is also an excellent-looking fixture in Dublin, with the Republic of Ireland playing Brazil at Croke Park - and I'll let you know of any big drama from there. 1845: Some confusion over England team news. Initial reports suggested Ashley Young and Owen Hargreaves would start, but it was then claimed Jermaine Jenas and Gareth Barry would start instead of them. And is David Bentley starting? I'll keep you posted. 1840: "I don't know about anyone else but it's the first time in years I'm actually looking forward to an England friendly."
pannasport on 606 Honestly, a new suavely-dressed foreign coach and people go crazy. I wonder if he is the sort of man who sends the ladies weak at the knees. Fabio, by the way, is in the building. Wembley, that is. 1835 GMT: All herald the dawn of a brand new era, a golden age for our golden generation. The first steps on the path that will surely lead to all our normally broken and crushed dreams finally being realised with some glorious major tournament success. Oh, hold on, George Burley's Scotland aren't in action tonight. But Fabio Capello's brave new England are playing - and in a friendly that could not be tastier than a block of the finest Swiss chocolate (OK, I exaggerate here). Capello's bedraggled predecessor Steve McClaren gave the impression towards the latter stages of his reign that he was so divorced with reality that he would remain upbeat even if faced with a firing squad. Capello has worked with his players for three days and already felt the need to declare "I'm not a messiah". He has brought discipline and order to the training camp and has quickly established himself as the headmaster of the St George Comprehensive School for Boys. It will be interesting to see who emerges as his head boy.

Northern Ireland and Wales are also in action, with Nigel Worthington's team at home to Bulgaria and John Toshack's outfit taking on Norway at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7228 479.stm

McClaren ready to manage abroad

By Simon Austin McClaren was sacked as England boss in November Former England manager Steve McClaren is willing to take a job overseas or in the Football League in order to get back into management. McClaren says he has turned down several job offers since being sacked as England boss in November. "My next job will be about the person employing me as much as anything - he has to have vision and be ambitious," McClaren told BBC Sport. "It might be abroad, in the second division or in the Championship." In-depth interview: Steve McClaren He added: "It's got to be a challenge. Before I went to Middlesbrough, Sir Alex Ferguson told me 'Pick the chairman, not the club'. "And I was lucky I picked Steve Gibson, who believed in my philosophy and gave me time. "Given time, if you have got the right philosophy, you will succeed. "When Kevin Keegan first went to Newcastle, they were bottom of the then Second Division. 606: DEBATE Would you welcome McClaren to your club? "He took them into the Premier League and then to second place. That sort of thing is possible and excites me as much as starting in the Premier League." McClaren spent time watching the coaching methods at Barcelona and Espanyol last week and admits a job at a European club would appeal to him. "It's something I would never dismiss and which, in fact, excites me," he said. "The key thing is getting the experience of different cultures. We shouldn't be insular and think the English Premier League is the be all and end all. "I have had offers, mainly from abroad, but none that has really excited me." The 46-year-old believes his 18-month tenure as England boss, which ended when the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, has made him a better manager. He conceded: "I'm not daft, I realise it was damaging not qualifying, but I have got so much faith in my ability and believe the 18 months was great experience for any future job. Capello has emphasised discipline since succeeding McClaren "What more does anyone have to go through? I'm not bitter and never regret taking that job - I was given an opportunity that not many people get." Much has been made of the emphasis that Fabio Capello has placed on discipline since succeeding McClaren as England boss. McClaren, in contrast, was often accused of being too informal and familiar with his players. "We called each other by nicknames but how I work has been successful the majority of the time, so I am going to stick by that," he said. "What works for some, does not work for others. I am a player-oriented coach and manager and always will be. "It is about getting the best out of your players and establishing a relationship with them and having respect and trust on both sides. "I believe we have established that wherever I've been, even with England for six and a half years." McClaren, who was also part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's coaching staff when the Swede was England boss, says the lack of English players in the Premier League hindered the national team's progress and will also hamper Capello. He stated: "Of course it's a hindrance. Look at the facts - in the Premier League, 38% of players playing on any one Saturday are English. "And how many of those are playing for the top four? How many are playing in Europe? Whenever England fail, people question the attitude of the players, whereas that's the last thing wrong Steve McClaren "This is the key. The England manager needs English players playing at the top, in European football, because that is the closest experience to international football. "The Italian and Spanish leagues have got 65, 70% of players from their nationalities. We have to get more English players of the talent and quality to play for the top teams and to get experience in Europe. "I look at the current crop of players and they are a good squad and can achieve more. "But it's worrying what is coming through underneath. We maybe have 15, 16 playing in Europe and at the top. "Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, you could pick from 40 or 50 English players. If one got injured, a replica came in of the same quality. "That needs addressing and we must make sure that in five or 10 years we have got a conveyor belt of players coming through, like they have in Spain, France or Italy." McClaren says the fact he brought Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch on as second-half substitutes in the 3-2 defeat by Croatia at Wembley in November was symptomatic of the problem. Each player had played only a handful of matches for their club sides before that game. "That is not right, that can't happen," said McClaren. The former Middlesbrough manager also argues that the technique and tactical nous of English players must improve for the national team to thrive on the international stage. "I spoke to Thierry Henry and Eidur Gudjohnsen last week and they said 'Whichever team you play in Spain, the technique is amazing'." Former Arsenal striker Henry and ex-Chelsea forward Gudjohnsen are now at Barcelona and McClaren added: "You can't lose the strength of the English game, the work-rate, the commitment but we do need to improve technique and tactical intelligence. "Whenever England fail, people question the attitude of the players, whereas that's the last thing wrong." A Premier League spokesman responded: "Premier League clubs are committed to finding, and developing, the best English players possible and currently invest over 40m a season in their academies."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7244647.stm

GB cyclists earn World Cup glory

Chris Newton clinched the World Cup points race title in Denmark
British track cyclists Chris Newton, Rebecca Romero and Victoria Pendleton claimed glory at the season's final World Cup event in Copenhagen.
Newton's third place in the men's points race behind Pim Ligthart and Rafal Ratajczyk was enough to earn him overall World Cup victory.

Romero won the women's 3,000m pursuit in Denmark, while Pendleton claimed silver in the women's 200m sprint.

Great Britain's men missed out on a team sprint medal, finishing fourth.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/7248279 .stm

Christie urges athletes to focus

Linford Christie won 100m sprint gold at the Barcelona Olympics Linford Christie has urged British Olympians to ignore politics and focus on performance ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games. China's staging of the Games is becoming increasingly politicised because of its human rights record and foreign policy in places like Sudan. But Christie says personal feelings should be kept to one side. "Sometimes people try to get politics and athletics entwined and they shouldn't," said 47-year-old Christie. "It's always like that. People try and drag sport into certain things and there's nothing we can do about that. "The athletes are going out there and performing and that's all they should do." Sometimes we are a little bit hypocritical, I mean we all use Chinese products here Linford Christie Christie, who clinched the 1992 Olympic 100m title in Barcelona, is the only Briton to win 100m gold medals at Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Championships. He added: "The athletes get one chance in four years to go out and compete. Sometimes we are a little bit hypocritical, I mean we all use Chinese products here." This week Hollywood film director Steven Spielberg quit as the Games' artistic advisor because of China's policies in the Darfur region of west Sudan. And there was more controversy when the British Olympic Association (BOA) insisted competitors must sign contracts which would have prohibited political demonstrations or propaganda. However, the BOA has said it will now look again at the wording of the draft agreement. 606: DEBATE Have your say on this story on 606 British badminton player Richard Vaughan, a former Olympian, insists athletes should be allowed to express their views. "In my mind, China has an indifferent political record internationally, be it in Darfur, Burma, or many other nations in Africa they do business with," he told BBC Sport. "This, mixed with human rights issues within China itself, and the lack of a free press, means there are always going to be issues with the decision to stage the Olympics in Beijing. "I believe free speech is very important for everyone. If athletes feel strongly about a humanitarian topic, they have the right to comment on it, as does any member of the public." Everyone is thinking medals, but it's (Beijing) not really about medals Linford Christie Some British athletes have been drawn into another off-the-track debate after shamed sprinter Dwain Chambers won selection to the World Indoor Championships next month. Chambers, 29, is back competing again after serving a two-year ban for taking the performance-enhancing drug THG and his inclusion in the British team sparked widespread controversy. Christie is planning to be in Beijing in his role as coach to 200m specialist Christian Malcolm and believes that British hopes should not be written off, though he warned against applying too much pressure in the quest for medals. "I think we've got a very good chance. Everyone is thinking medals, but it's not really about medals," said Christie, who was banned for two years in 1999 after testing positive for banned steroid nandrolone. "It's about youngsters coming through, getting an opportunity and a chance to see what the pressure is going to be like at a major championship."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7248227.s tm