| Rennes takes over French soccer lead Rennes beat Toulouse 3-1 on Sunday to move past Saint-Etienne and into first place in the French league. cbc.ca |
Davies will not let England down, says Coyle • 33-year-old striker named in Fabio Capello's squad • Coyle says call-up 'earned through the quality of his play'The Bolton Wanderers manager, Owen Coyle, is confident that Kevin Davies will not fail to seize his long-awaited chance for England.The 33-year-old, who had virtually given up on his chances of an international call-up, was named in Fabio Capello's squad on Monday.Coyle said Davies' selection was fully deserved and a reward for years of hard work which have gone unrecognised."To get that call-up for his country, which I know means an awful lot to him, has been earned through the quality of his play and we are absolutely thrilled for him," said Coyle."No-one has given it him easy, he has had to work his socks off against some terrific centre-backs in the best league in the world. One thing we all ask in football is if you get an opportunity you have to go and grasp it and he has earned the opportunity. If he is given the chance there is no doubt in my mind he will be a terrific addition to the squad."Coyle revealed he found out before the weekend that Davies had been selected in Capello's provisional squad and, although he had no qualms about telling the player immediately, he stressed that the focus had to remain on Saturday's game at West Bromwich Albion.Davies himself said he thought it was a joke and would not believe it until he received official confirmation an hour before yesterday's announcement."We've known since late Thursday that he was in the long squad but such was his and my focus we kept it to ourselves to concentrate on the game at West Brom," added Coyle. "Even yesterday, when we both knew, we waited for it to be announced because it is such a big thing for him. He has had a tremendous career and shown his qualities year after year and for that call-up to finally come, he just wanted to make sure it was confirmed."Coyle believes it will be easy for the striker to adapt to life in the England team as he has displayed plenty of versatility in his career."Whether you decide to play one, two or three up front Kevin has a tremendous role to play for anyone. As a former striker myself I would have loved to have played with that type of player who knocks things down into your path."If he is given the opportunity he will be fantastic, no doubt about it."Davies has conceded he expects to be suffering from a few nerves, but has vowed to make the most of his chance."I just have to go along and enjoy the experience of being involved with the international team and if I get the chance to play I will do my best to impress. It is a really proud moment for me and my family."I am sure there will be a few nerves over the next couple of days and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am looking forward to this opportunity and I'm going to give it my best shot."Englandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Ten-man Rovers earn dull draw Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland fail to defy the critics' expectations as they battle out a 0-0 draw. foxsports.com.au |
Fifa suspends members over vote claims • Implicated pair Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii suspended• Ethics committee to meet again in November over scandalThe bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups remained mired in confusion and controversy tonight after Fifa provisionally suspended two of the 24 members of its executive committee who will make the decision. The president, Sepp Blatter, whose chances of re-election next spring could depend on his handling of the crisis, said it was "a sad day for football" and appealed to be allowed time to "bring back the credibility of Fifa".In the wake of the allegations in the Sunday Times that the Nigerian Amos Adamu and the Oceania representative Reynald Temarii had effectively agreed to sell their vote to undercover reporters, its ethics committee tonight provisionally suspended both men from "all football‑related activities" but said it would take a month to come to a final decision.That will leave the bidders for both tournaments, including England, in limbo over their strategy until a fortnight before the final vote on 2 December. Claudio Sulser, the ethics commission chairman, refused to say whether the two members would be replaced if they were suspended permanently.Four Fifa officials who appeared in the undercover footage – Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee – were also suspended on the same terms. Sulser said the decision to provisionally suspend all six for 30 days, which can be extended by a further 20, did not imply guilt but would allow the committee to complete a full investigation.Following an extended meeting of the ethics committee Sulser and the general secretary, Jérôme Valcke, were guarded, but the Fifa president was typically florid as he attempted to regain the initiative following a torrid week. "It's a sad day for football and a sad day for life because you can't always have sunny days," said Blatter. "This is the bad side of football. But the good side of football is that we have immediately reacted. The ethics committee have carried out their work in a very short time and have already reached initial decisions."Our society is full of devils and these devils you find them in football, and we have to fight for fair play, we have to fight for respect and especially we have to fight that the people in charge of Fifa behave as they should do and if this is not the case then we have to intervene."Valcke dismissed suggestions that the vote would have to be postponed due to a collapse of confidence in the process. "The process for 2018 and 2022 has been perfectly well managed and well organised. There have been various times the ethics committee has sent letters to the bidders to inform them what they are doing or not doing," said Valcke, who sits on the executive committee but does not have a vote. "There is no discussion about postponement of the decision, no discussion about the process of awarding these two World Cups together on 2 December." He said the vote would remain a secret ballot.The decision to award both tournaments simultaneously and the lack of transparent rules governing the process has been blamed for increasing the risk of corruption. Valcke confirmed that the ethics committee was also examining allegations of vote trading, which is banned, between two bidding nations but said that they remained "rumours" at present. "We have done everything to ensure it's a fair and transparent decision for the two World Cups," he insisted.Adamu was caught on camera asking for £500,000 for a "personal project" in return for supporting one of England's rivals for the 2018 contest, according to the Sunday Times investigation.Temarii, a Fifa vice-president and president of the Oceania Football Confederation, was also said to have been recorded asking for £1.5m for a sports academy in exchange for his support.Sulser said the committee had been provided with all of the Sunday Times material, including 90 minutes of unbroadcast video and transcripts and spoke to both men yesterday. Temarii has said: "I am 100% convinced of my integrity … I will prove I am an honest man." Adamu has declined to comment. Sulser anticipated coming to a decision by mid‑November.Meanwhile, the International Football Association Board today moved a decisive step closer to the introduction of goalline technology.In the wake of Frank Lampard's "ghost goal" for England against Germany at this summer's World Cup, Blatter was forced into a u-turn on the topic. Companies with viable technology will be invited to present to the IFAB board, which sets the rules of the game, by next month with trials planned before its next full meeting in March.The board, which met for its annual business meeting at Celtic Manor in Newport, said the winning solution would apply only to goalline technology and would have to communicate an accurate decision to the match officials within one second.FifaWorld Cup 2018Football politicsOwen Gibsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Lyon 2 Benfica 0: match report French side ease to win over 10-man visitors and take control of Champions League Group B. telegraph.co.uk |