Latest World Cup News

[sky star 2]

ENKE OUT OF RUSSIA SHOWDOWN

Robert Enke has been ruled out of Germany's crucial World Cup qualifier against Russia next month due to illness.

The Hannover goalkeeper had been coach Joachim Low's number one choice for what could be a decisive game in Germany's bid to qualify for next year's World Cup finals, but having missed the last two internationals and Hannover's last three Bundesliga games already, he is set to miss at least another fortnight.

That would leave him short of peak condition for the game in Moscow on October 14 and Low has already decided to rule him out.

"Robert has agreed with his doctors that he will only train lightly for the next two weeks as he has to take antibiotics for the time being," explained Low.

"That means for us that he will not be fully fit in time for the internationals in October and he cannot therefore be employed.

"We are happy that a diagnosis has now been made for his health problems and that Robert is on the road to recovery."

Numerous tests were required to ascertain the cause for Enke's ill-feeling during the last break for internationals earlier this month.

A precise diagnosis has only just been made and Enke is now undergoing a course of antibiotics to cure a stomach bacterial infection.

His place in goal in Moscow will now be contested between Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler, Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese and Manuel Neuer of Schalke.



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

FA EXPECT FABIO CAPELLO TO STAY

Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore is confident Fabio Capello will still be England coach after next summer's World Cup.

Capello has secured England's place in South Africa with two games to spare after leading his team to a 100 per cent record in qualification.

He is under contract for a further three years and the Italian recently stated that coaching England would be his last job in football.

There have also been rumours that the 63-year-old will step down after the World Cup, but Watmore does not anticipate Capello will leave before the end of his contract.

"His contract is until 2012 and nothing he has done publicly or privately intimates anything other than a desire to honour that contract," Watmore told the Daily Mail.

"Everything he is talking about, everything he is doing, the way he lives his life, the way he conducts his professional life, is about three more years.

"When we get much nearer to that time we will have to start thinking about what happens next, but we have made tremendous progress under his leadership and the focus now is on trying to ensure that England do as well as they can at the World Cup.

"Fabio has fantastic ambition for England, in this tournament and the next one. He likes his life in England and where he lives in London.

"He is a man with many facets to his life. He is not a football obsessive, but someone who is interested in art and culture, in music and so on, and there are few cities in the world better for pursuing those interests.

"I personally think he will stay the three years."

FA chairman Lord Triesman added: "It truly has not crossed my mind that he won't still be the England manager at the start of next season."




:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

ANELKA NOT WORRIED BY PLAY-OFFS

Nicolas Anelka is confident that France will overcome their current troubles and reach the 2010 World Cup.

Raymond Domenech's side have made hard work of their qualification campaign so far, and trail Serbia by four points in Group Seven.

They do still have two fixtures remaining in which to try and snatch top spot, but the play-offs are looking like a more realistic option.

Chelsea striker Anelka insists that will not be problem, adamant that Les Bleus are capable of negotiating such a challenge.

"If we have to go through the play-offs, we will go through the play-offs, there is no problem," he told FIFA's official website.

"The most important thing is to be at the World Cup. It will be difficult, because in a play-off anything is possible, but at least we will there at the World Cup."

Anelka has also moved to play down any suggestion of disharmony or panic brewing within the French fold.

"We are very confident," he added.

"We know we are a big team, we now have to show that on the field.

"We have played well in our last two games and now we have to do the same and take our chances in the next two."




:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

PEARCE PULLS NO PUNCHES

England's star players face a tough regime under Fabio Capello in the run-up to next year's World Cup of two strikes and you're out.

Stuart Pearce, England Ender-21 manager and the only English member of Capello's senior coaching team, said there will be no pampering of the top players.

Pearce said: "I don't subscribe to the view of how you treat millionaire footballers.

"I've a great schoolmaster in Fabio Capello. He treats the new arrivals in the team in the same way as he treats John Terry.

"If you step out of line once you will be told. If you do it twice you won't be told again.

"He's created the environment where there's a fair playing field whoever you are. The only thing that matters is how if you are good enough."

Pearce said England need to be less naive if they are to have a chance of winning the World Cup.

Speaking at the League Managers' Association annual conference in London, Pearce added: "I think 'game management' is the one thing we are really naive on - for example when you are in a cul-de-sac near the corner flag what are you looking to achieve: get a corner out of it, kill the game, slow the game?

"We play our club football at a very high tempo and when we go to major tournaments we do the same thing and then all of sudden we run out of gas after four or five games."

Pearce said Capello had been "fantastically open" with him but he did not feel experienced enough yet to succeed the Italian.

"He encompasses me in the team and they have been fantastically open with me and involved me with everything," said Pearce.

"I've made an attempt to try to learn Italian which has not been easy with my upbringing. But he has been so open from day one, saying go and get up there.

"At this moment in time I've managed less than 150 games so I've got to spend a lot more time in the game.

"It's about learning your trade before you step into the role, and that doesn't include me at this moment."

Pearce was manager of Manchester City before he was sacked following the takeover of the club by Thaksin Shinawatra, who then sold it on to Sheikh Mansour a year later and sparked one of the biggest transfer binges in football history.

Pearce has no regrets about not being at City still to enjoy the riches but says the club needs to be wary about losing its identity.

"I have a better job now!" said Pearce. "Four years ago I was manager of Manchester City, a club with expectations deep-rooted from back in the 1960s and 1970s when they were a massive club.

"But four years ago the club was kept running by the academy with a nucleus of young players such as Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson.

"You hope that a football club doesn't lose that identity.

"There's a pride in seeing a local boy running out for the local team."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

COLE TAKING IT STEP BY STEP

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has his sights on an international recall but has put thoughts of England and contract talks on the back burner while he returns to full fitness.

The 27-year-old was out with a knee injury for eight months before returning to set up Salomon Kalou's winner in the Carling Cup win over QPR this week.

Since suffering cruciate ligament damage, Cole has watched Fabio Capello's England continue their 100% qualifying record on their way to the World Cup and Chelsea start the Barclays Premier League with a perfect record.

"It's great," Cole said. "The country is on a high the way the lads are playing at the moment. I'd like to get back but that's for the future.

"It's day by day, keep working hard and when that challenge comes along I'll attack it. All I can do now is to recover.

"It would be stupid for me to say 'I'm back now and I'm going to be here, there and everywhere'. I just want to be stronger every day. It's a process. You can't rush it.

"Chelsea are playing well and so are England. All I can think about is doing the best I can do as quickly as I can. I'm confident once I get there I'll play many games this year."

Cole was on schedule to be fit for the start of the campaign before breaking down in pre-season while in America - and he admits there were dark days while he was recovering.

"There's lots of people who were a lot worse off than me at any point during my injury," he said. "Of course there were days when you'd get down but everyone at the club kept me upbeat and I tried my best to keep a smile on my face. I'm doing what I love, playing for Chelsea.

"I'm not going to be back to my 100% best in my first game back in nearly nine months. I will keep going and I will get there.

"You can't say how long that will take. All players are different. All you can do is work really hard every day, try to take everything you can out of training, be professional."

Cole is out of contract at the end of the season but agreeing a new deal is not his concern at the moment.

"All I've done is the training," he said. "I just want to get fit."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

COLE FOCUSED ONLY ON CHELSEA

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has banished all thoughts of earning a place in England's World Cup squad - insisting that he first wants to rediscover his best form for the Blues.

Cole made his first appearance for eight months in the club's 1-0 Carling Cup third-round win over QPR on Wednesday night after recovering from knee ligament damage.

The 27-year-old has been forced to watch from the sidelines as England qualified for next summer's finals in South Africa without his services.

Now he has a battle ahead to convince England coach Fabio Capello that he is worth being part of the 23-man squad.

But Cole said: "Our country is on a high with the way the lads are playing - it's great. I'd like to get back but that's all in good time.

"For me it's just a case of taking it day by day and keep working hard. When England comes along I'll take that challenge.

"I don't want to get into talking about England. It would be stupid to say I'm back and I want to be here, there and everywhere.

"I just want to get stronger every day and take what I can out of training. I can't rush it.

"Chelsea are playing well and England are playing well - it's fantastic.

"All I can do is get to the best quality I can and I'm confident when I get there, I'll get an awful lot of games this year."

Cole was made captain by Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday and he repaid him by setting up the winning goal for Salomon Kalou in the 52nd minute.

The England international was picked to play at the top of the diamond in midfield and was clearly at home in the role.

"I was in the middle and it suits me down to the ground," said Cole.

"It helped me a lot playing in that system because you can play the game at your own pace.

"Things come naturally to me there rather than playing as a winger and being expected to run past people.

"To captain Chelsea is just unbelievable. I was a ball boy here and I am a fan.

"It was good for my mum, dad, two sisters and girlfriend. They have all been through it with me, and it was great for everyone."

Cole is now set to return to the sidelines as Chelsea travel to Wigan on Saturday.

Ancelotti rested a host of first-team players against Rangers, but they will be back in the squad for the trip north, along with striker Didier Drogba, who is fit again after being stretchered off in the 3-0 win over Tottenham with a calf injury.



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

PREMIER LEAGUE QUARTET IN RUSSIA SQUAD

There are spaces for each of Russia's four Premier League players in coach Guus Hiddink's 23-man squad for his side's deciding World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Azerbaijan next month.

Yuri Zhirkov of Chelsea returns to the squad after injury and Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko keeps his place despite few first-team opportunities at club level so far this season, while Everton newcomer Diniar Bilyaletdinov is in contention despite not featuring in the previous qualifier against Wales earlier this month.

Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin is also included after recovering from a groin injury.

Hiddink has been forced to hand a debut call-up to Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Soslan Dzhanaev after Dinamo Moscow's Vladimir Gabulov suffered a fractured skull in a league match between the two clubs that looks to have ruled him out for the rest of the year.

There is also a recall for Lokomotiv Moscow's Dmitri Torbinsky, who takes the place of another Dinamo injury casualty - defender Denis Kolodin.

The crunch match against Germany at the Luzhniki Stadium on October 10 will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of Group 4.

Germany currently lead the group by one point but a Russian victory would put Hiddink's men in a very strong position to take the one automatic qualifying spot, with their final fixture a seemingly straightforward task away to bottom-placed Azerbaijan.

But a point or better for Joachim Low's men in Moscow will leave the Germans' destiny in their own hands as they go into their final match at home to Finland four days later.

Russian squad:

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev, Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg), Soslan Dzhanaev (Spartak Moscow).

Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Vasili Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Aleksei Berezutsky (all CSKA Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (Chelsea), Renat Yanbaev (Lokomotiv Moscow).

Midfielders: Diniar Bilyaletdinov (Everton), Vladimir Bystrov, Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Igor Semshov (all Zenit St Petersburg), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Aleksei Rebko, Sergei Semak (Rubin Kazan), Dmitri Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow).

Strikers: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), Aleksandr Bukharov (Rubin Kazan), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Dinamo Moscow), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham), Pavel Pogrebniak (Stuttgart).



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

BILIC WANTS TO STAY ON

Slaven Bilic has revealed that he is happy to continue as manager of Croatia after his contract expires after the World Cup.

The 41-year-old has seen his stock rise since taking over the reins of Croatia after the 2006 World Cup.

The former West Ham and Everton defender led his homeland to Euro 2008 where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Turkey.

Bilic has seen his name linked with a number of Premier League clubs recently but he insists that he would be more than happy to extend his stay with Croatia.

"The idea to keep the job is nothing new," he told Jutarnji List.

"Why would I stay? Because I feel good and no one should hurry leaving the place where they feel good. This experience is priceless."

However, Bilic conceded that the decision was in the hands of the Croatian Football Association and at present they have remained silent over the matter.

"There are circumstances which do have to fall in place," he added.

"Besides qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa, we've yet to see if the FA wants me to stay."

Croatia must beat Kazakhstan in their final World Cup qualifier and hope England can get a positive result against Ukraine if they are to make the play-offs for South Africa next summer.



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

REID BACK IN SQUAD

Steven Reid has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad for next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro.

The 28-year-old Blackburn midfielder, who has been working his way back to full fitness after knee injury which ended his season in September last year, has been included in a provisional 27-man party for the two games at Croke Park.

There are places too for fit-again Hull defender Paul McShane and Reading counterpart Darren O'Dea, but Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid misses out once again despite being in fine form for his club.

Squad: Shay Given (Manchester City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe); John O'Shea (Manchester United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull), Eddie Nolan, Sean St Ledger (both Preston), McShane (Hull), O'Dea (Reading); Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Keith Andrews (Blackburn), Liam Miller (Hibernian), Stephen Hunt (Hull), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Steven Reid (Blackburn), Liam Lawrence (Stoke); Caleb Folan (Hull), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Coventry).



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

TRAP TO STAY ON WITH REPUBLIC

Giovanni Trapattoni will attempt to book a trip to next summer's World Cup finals having secured his own future with a new two-year contract as Republic of Ireland boss.

The 70-year-old has agreed a deal with the Football Association of Ireland to remain at the helm until 2012 with his existing deal due to expire next year.

His new contract, as his old one was, has been part-funded by billionaire Denis O'Brien.

The extension represents a reward for Ireland's performance under his leadership with World Cup qualification a distinct possibility with two games of the Group Eight campaign to play.

Trapattoni, who also named a 27-man provisional squad for next month's decisive qualifiers against his native Italy and Montenegro, said: "I am delighted to continue my job with the FAI.

"This squad has huge potential. Our results demonstrate what self belief and structure can achieve and I am really looking forward to continuing the work we have begun."

Trapattoni has had his critics as he has gone about the business of making his side difficult to beat, but his justification is a qualifying campaign which sees his side unbeaten in eight games.

FAI chief executive John Delaney said: "We are very happy to agree a contract extension with Giovanni Trapattoni.

"The players and everyone on the FAI Board of management have been tremendously impressed by the professionalism, dedication and commitment of Giovanni Trapattoni and his team.

"We thank Denis O'Brien for his continuing contribution which will guarantee the services of one of the world's most successful managers, through until 2012."

O'Brien's involvement in Trapattoni's recruitment last year did not meet with universal approval, but his continued support has allowed the FAI to tie up the immediate future of a man whose influence has helped to create real belief in the national team's chances of making it to South Africa.

O'Brien said: "When the appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni was announced, we said that hiring the right people would enable us to get the right results.

"In Giovanni, the team has grown in stature and confidence and I am very happy to renew my partnership with the FAI, Giovanni Trapattoni and the Irish squad for the coming campaign."

On the pitch, Trapattoni sprang few surprises in announcing his squad for the forthcoming games, adding Steven Reid, Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea to the men who did duty in Cyprus earlier this month.

Reid has not played for his country since succumbing to yet another knee injury in September last year, but started Blackburn's 1-0 Carling Cup victory at Nottingham Forest in midweek as he continued his comeback.

McShane is included following his recovery from knee surgery during the summer, while O'Dea was used as a substitute in the 1-0 friendly victory over South Africa on September 8 after being drafted into the squad as a late replacement.

A point in Dublin would be enough to secure automatic qualification for Italy, while it would also guarantee Ireland the play-off spot if Bulgaria failed to win in Cyprus on the same night.

Marcello Lippi's side head for Croke Park sitting at the top of Group Eight with 20 points having won two games more than the Irish.

But victory for Trapattoni's men would send them into the last round of games knowing a home win over Montenegro four days later would book their passage to the finals, provided Cyprus denied the Italians victory in Parma that night.



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

DUNGA NAMES LARGE SQUAD

Brazil coach Dunga has named a 24-man squad ahead of the final two games in the South America zone to give players experience with qualification to South Africa 2010 already secured.

Brazil play at altitude in Bolivia on October 11, and three days later they host Venezuela.

"We called more players for that reason. We have two games ahead and the first one is very wearing, but we'll try to do our best in Bolivia," he said.

"We will make a decision following the condition the players have at that point.

"Despite we have already qualified, we're Brazil and we have to win always. We try to keep the group and give chances to some new players."

Werder Bremen defender Naldo receives a first call-up for two years and Spartak Moscow midfielder Alex is also selected.

Full squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio), Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe (La Coruna), A Santos (Fenerbahce), Luisao (Benfica), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (Roma), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Josue (Wolfsburg), G Silva (Panathinaikos), Lucas (Liverpool), Sandro (Internacional), Elano (Galatasaray), Ramires (Benfica), Alex (Spartak Moscow), Kaka (Real Madrid), D Souza (Palmeiras), Nilmar (Villarreal), D Tardelli (Atletico Mineiro), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Adriano (Flamengo).



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

DUO GET ARGENTINA CALL

Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain and Benfica midfielder Pablo Aimar are included in the squad named by Argentina coach Diego Maradona to play two key World Cup qualifiers next month.

Argentina play Peru on October 10 and Uruguay four days later to end their South American zone qualification campaign, and they need two wins to have a chance of getting their ticket to South Africa 2010.

Argentina lie in fifth position in the standings. If they finish there, they will face a play-off against a CONCACAF nation.

After losing to Brazil and Paraguay two weeks ago, Maradona had announced he planned to do several changes, and he confirmed that as in addition to Higuain and Aimar, Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua received his first call.

Among those left out are Javier Zanetti, Fernando Gago and Jesus Datolo, all of them starters in the last game against Paraguay.

Maradona will used Argentina-based players in a friendly against Ghana next Wednesday.

Full squad: S Romero, M Andujar (Catania), E Insua (Liverpool), F Coloccini (Newcastle), G Heinze (Olympique), P Zabaleta (Manchester City), N Pareja (Espanyol), J Mascherano (Liverpool), Luis Gonzalez (Olympique), J Gutierrez (Newcastle), A Di Maria (Benfica), P Aimar (Benfica), L Messi (Barcelona), S Aguero (Atletico Madrid), C Tevez (Manchester City), G Higuain (Real Madrid), D Milito (Inter), E Lavezzi (Napoli).


:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

COLE READY FOR ENGLAND FIGHT

Carlton Cole knows he will have to maintain a high level of performance if he is to go to the World Cup with England.

Fabio Capello's men have booked their place in next summer's tournament following an impressive qualifying campaign but there are still plenty of selection issues for the Italian to ponder.

He has a number of options up front and most of the England contenders have made strong starts to the new Premier League season.

Cole has been in fine form for West Ham but he understands that it will be difficult to stay ahead of his rivals in the pecking order.

"I might not even make the squad coming up. There is so much competition," he said in the Daily Mirror.

"You've got Peter Crouch who got a hat-trick last week, there's Emile Heskey as well.

"Gabby Agbonlahor is scoring goals and Darren Bent is doing well for Sunderland.

"I haven't even mentioned Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, guys like that.

"There is such an array of talent that you can't take your place for granted. You've always got to stay on your toes."

The popular perception is that only a few spots in the final 23-man squad are still up for grabs, with Capello likely to have made a decision on most of his players already.

However, Cole realises the situation can change very quickly and has vowed to keep striving for improvement.

"Everyone thinks people have got a place carved in stone for the World Cup, but anything can happen," he explained.

"Just to go into a squad with the likes of David Beckham and Steven Gerrard in it has been a massive step for me.

"Mr Capello knows what he wants and he is always in touch with Gianfranco (Zola) to see how I can improve my game. That's what keeps me grounded."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

MEGSON BACKS CAHILL FOR WORLD CUP

Gary Megson believes Bolton central defender Gary Cahill "will be ready for the World Cup" if chosen for next summer's finals by Fabio Capello.

Cahill turned in another impressive performance in front of Capello during Bolton's 2-1 success over Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday - their second successive away win.

He was part of the England squad for the recent double header with Slovenia and Croatia at Wembley.

And Megson feels Cahill has made big strides forward since deciding to quit Aston Villa and move to the Reebok Stadium in a £5million deal during the January 2008 transfer window.

He said: "Gary is ready in terms of England. I said that six months ago, probably longer than that. He is ready for the World Cup if called upon. All he can do is keep putting in good performances.

"It was great from Gary's point of view that Fabio turned up at Birmingham because he now knows if he keeps putting in performances, the England manager will come along - regardless of whom we are playing.

"I really do think when Gary gets his opportunity (with England), he won't come out.

"He does have to accept he has got two world class centre-halfs (John Terry and Rio Ferdinand) in front of him but he can't do much other than he is doing now."

Tamir Cohen's third goal of the campaign gave Bolton the lead and, after Kevin Phillips had equalised, South Korean international Chung-Yong Lee grabbed a last gap winner for the Trotters.

But record signing Johan Elmander, had to be content with a place on the substitute's bench with Megson demanding more input from the former Toulouse striker.

Megson said: "Johan is part of the squad but he needs to accept like everyone else that he has got to deliver.

"It doesn't matter to me how much he cost, where he came from, reputation. He has to deliver. He has got to start doing more. He has got a great touch, great awareness but he has got to start doing a lot more for us.

"We know what we are getting with Kevin Davies. We know his quality in the air, the size, power and pace of him and, most of all, the work-rate that Kevin puts in.

"It doesn't matter to me whether Johan is an international player from Sweden, or whether they have cost a lot of money, or whether they are young players who have cost nothing."

Blues manager Alex McLeish bemoaned his side's poor defending at set pieces for both of the Bolton goals.

But he took heart from the reaction from his players in the dressing room after the final whistle.

He said: "A few of the players let rip in the dressing room, the ones with the voices, and I quite enjoyed that. It saved me raising my voice.

"They got stuck into each other because they switched off. I think some of our players lost a bit of concentration and we became a bit trance-like.

"I think the input is important. Of course, they must get on but they don't all have to be best pals and it is important people show leadership.

"If we accept every week that is going to happen, we will just come in the dressing room and say nothing, then we are going to be where we are - or even worse."

McLeish added: "It was disappointing that we switched off at such a crucial time. These are the harsh lessons the players are suffering just now in the Premier League.

"We lost the first goal from a set piece which, believe me, we try and practice against on the training ground. But it is nothing like the real thing and we didn't deal with it and were punished again.

"Then again we didn't follow in for the second goal after the free-kick had hit the post."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

LIPPI TELLS CASSANO TO WAIT

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has praised Sampdoria's great start to the campaign but says Antonio Cassano will have to wait before finding out if he is to be included in his World Cup squad.

Samp beat Inter Milan 1-0 on Saturday to climb to the top of the Serie A standings, one point clear of Juventus.

"Sampdoria has started well," said Lippi. "They have important players and a good coach in Luigi Del Neri.

"Samp was a team that was improving and I am happy that they are first in the standings as I played at Sampdoria for 20 years."

One of the main reasons why Samp have won all but one of their six encounters this campaign has been the impressive form of Cassano.

While Cassano hasn't been scoring goals, he has created opportunities for his team-mates to find the back of the net.

When asked if Cassano will return to the national team, Lippi added: "Every player dreams of playing for the national team and so does he.

"But everyone must wait until June for my final call-up."

Local media and Azzurri fans have called for Lippi to get Cassano back in the national side.

Cassano was in Roberto Donadoni's Euro 2008 squad but ever since Lippi returned to guide the Azzurri, the playmaker has not featured for Italy.

Cassano does have a reputation for causing trouble on and off the pitch but has matured in his two seasons at Sampdoria.

The world champions need just one point at Ireland in the qualifier on October 10 to assure themselves a place in next year's top tournament in South Africa.



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

NORTHERN IRELAND RECALL McCOURT

Celtic midfielder Pat McCourt has been recalled to the Northern Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic on October 14.

McCourt has been rewarded by manager Nigel Worthington for a spell of good form which has seen him score twice for his club in the past week.

He followed his goal against Falkirk in Co-operative Cup by finding the target in the victory over St Mirren at the weekend.

Striker Warren Feeney makes a welcome return following a hip injury as Martin Paterson is sidelined with a knee problem.

Rangers duo Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty are both included even though they have been suffering from flu and a knee injury.

Northern Ireland need a victory in Prague in their final qualifier to have any chance of making the play-offs.

Squad:

Taylor (Birmingham), Mannus (Shamrock), Tuffey (Partick); Craigan (Motherwell), Hughes (Fulham), McAuley (Ipswich), Baird (Fulham), Evans (Man Utd), McCartney (Sunderland), Coates (Crusaders); McCann (Scunthorpe), Brunt (West Brom), McGinn (Celtic), Clingan (Coventry), Johnson (Birmingham), Davis (Rangers), McCourt (Celtic); Healy (Sunderland), Little (Rangers), Lafferty (Rangers), Feeney (Cardiff).



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

MULLER SLAMS GERMANY STRIKERS

Legendary Germany forward Gerd Muller has claimed the nation's current crop of strikers would not have stood a chance of playing alongside him in his day.

The 63-year-old, who scored 365 goals in the Bundesliga and 68 goals in just 62 caps for Germany, has criticised Miroslav Klose, Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski ahead of next week's crucial World Cup qualifier with Russia.

"When you see what strikers we have in the national team today - in my day, they would not have even been allowed to even sniff the ball," he told DSF television.

Only one German striker is deserving of a place in coach Joachim Low's attack, according to Muller, and that is his namesake Thomas Muller, who is making a good impression in his first season as a professional with Bayern Munich.

"He is an incredible young lad," added Muller. "He can use both his left and right foot, like me.

"He is quick, strong in the air and he is one that can be taken to the World Cup."

However, Low has defended the three strikers he is almost certain to name in his squad this week, insisting times have changed since Muller hung up his boots.

"I have the utmost respect for players like Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer and Gunter Netzer and they are role models today, but you cannot make comparisons over decades," he told the Bild newspaper.

"It has become incredibly difficult for strikers. Football has developed particularly in the art of defending.

"Nowadays, strikers don't even get five minutes worth of the room that the strikers used to get over 90 minutes in a game."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

MEXICO OUT OF WORLD CUP RUNNING

Mexico, one of England's rivals to host the 2018 World Cup, have pulled out of the bidding process.

The Mexican Football Federation said in a statement on their official website that financial concerns were behind their decision to withdraw from the race for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

"The decision is based on two premises: the global economic environment and the investment that would be required in infrastructure," read the statement.

"The foreseeable outlook regarding the global economic environment does not allow the country's authorities - neither at federal nor local government level - to commit funds towards the necessary works required by an event of this magnitude."

The federation added that it would be "practically impossible" to find the public and private investment required to bring the country's stadia up to scratch in time to stage the event.

"In Mexico we do have a sufficient number of stadia to stage the contest, but the majority of these were built several years ago to meet old FIFA requirements," the statement continued.

Mexico, who hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, were always considered an outsider in the 2018/2022 tender.

With the neighbouring United States putting together an impressive bid and the 2014 edition being staged in Brazil, it was always unlikely that FIFA would opt for more than one country in the Americas when voting on the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 events.

The other bidders include England, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Russia, while Portugal and Spain have tabled a joint bid, as have Belgium and Holland.

South Korea and Qatar will compete with the other eight bids to host the 2022 World Cup, with FIFA set to decide on the hosts of both events in December 2010.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke added: "Even though Mexico, one of the biggest football nations on earth and host of two FIFA World Cups, has finally opted to withdraw its bid to stage a third edition, FIFA wishes to thank the whole Mexican football family for having taken part in this process.

"We obviously fully respect this decision and are very much looking forward to continued cooperation with the Mexican Football Federation as another very nice goal approaches, namely the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2011, for which the preparations are well on track."




:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

INJURY BLOW FOR JERMAIN DEFOE

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe looks set to miss Saturday's trip to Bolton and could be a doubt for Fabio Capello's latest England squad.

The in-form forward sustained a broken hand in the 5-0 victory against Burnley at White Hart Lane last weekend and was forced off after 57 minutes.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has admitted his concern over Defoe, with Capello due to name his squad for the final World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus on Sunday.

England have already booked a place at the finals in South Africa next summer, but Defoe will be keen to cement his place in the party having missed out on a spot in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad in 2006.

Redknapp said: "He is struggling. Jermain dislocated two fingers against Burnley last Saturday and they couldn't get them back in.

"But he has also fractured his hand. He spent all Saturday night in hospital and is struggling.

"Hopefully, he'll be OK for England but we'll have to wait and see."

Defoe's injury could hand Peter Crouch a starting role against Bolton on Saturday, with the striker previously being kept out of the side by his former Pompey team-mate and Robbie Keane.

Redknapp has assured Crouch he will have a key role to play this season and admitted he is a strong contender to start at the Reebok Stadium.

He added: "Peter will get the opportunity to play plenty of games this year. Next is away to Bolton - a big strong team.

"Set plays, we have got to be prepared for that. Last week we went with a small team, next week I will probably pick a bigger team."



:thum:

 

[sky star 2]

DUO RECALLED FOR QUALIFIERS

Taras Mykhalyk and Olexander Aliyev have been recalled by Ukraine coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko after injuries for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against England and Andorra.

Shakhtar Donetsk's Under-21 international Yaroslav Rakitskyi has also been included in the 23-man group for the Group Six matches on October 10 and 14 respectively.

Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Dnipro's Andriy Rusol will miss these qualifiers due to injuries, while Vitaliy Mandziuk will miss the England game through suspension.

Ukraine squad: Andriy Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Stanislav Bogush, Olexander Shovkovskyi (both Dynamo Kiev); Vitaliy Mandziuk, Taras Mykhalyk (both Dynamo Kiev), Vasyl Kobin, Olexander Kucher, Vyacheslav Shevchuk, Mykola Ischenko, Yaroslav Rakitskyi (all Shakhtar Donetsk), Grygoriy Yarmash (Vorskla); Oleksiy Gai (Shakhtar Donetsk), Olexander Aliyev, Oleg Gusev, Andriy Yarmolenko (all Dynamo Kiev), Serhiy Nazarenko, Ruslan Rotan (both Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Anatoliy Tymoschuk (Bayern Munich); Andriy Voronin (Liverpool), Volodymyr Gomeniuk, Yevhen Seleznyov (both Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Artem Milevskyi, Andriy Shevchenko (both Dynamo Kiev).



:thum: