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| David Lacey: Two World Cups up for grabs The tournament itself in South Africa in June, and then the chance to host 2018 in December – 2010 holds plenty of intrigueIt is a rare year that finds England hoping to win two World Cups in the space of 12 months, having previously won only one in more than half a century. The bookmakers' odds against Fabio Capello's team returning triumphant from the 2010 tournament in South Africa, to be followed by the Football Association earning the right to stage the 2018 World Cup when Fifa votes in December, can afford to be generous even to those inclined to bet each way.Given the choice, most English fans would take a second World Cup triumph over another opportunity to become host nation, even though the latter does obviate the irksome need to qualify. Realistically, however, the country suspects that England's strongest chance of upstaging fading memories of 1966 still lies with taking on the best the globe can offer in their own backyard, give or take the odd favourable nod from an Azerbaijani linesman.In terms of how success in these two ventures is likely to be defined, Capello and his squad will enjoy more leeway than the FA's bidding board. Even if England do not win the World Cup in South Africa, progressing beyond the quarter-finals for once would be worth one cheer and reaching the final, if only to finish runners-up, a hearty two. Such is the nation's modest record in the major international tournaments that simply prompting the thought that England might win something is apt to guarantee coach and players a warm welcome home, which is what happened when Bobby Robson's squad arrived back at Luton after going out to West Germany on penalties in the semi‑finals of Italia 90.In this respect the bidders for 2018 are less fortunate for, if the December vote goes against them, there will be no consoling applause. They will be condemned for a misguided, mishandled campaign which has already been racked by ructions and resignations. Even now Lord Triesman and his team are still coming to terms with the unscheduled departure of Sir Dave Richards, the Premier League chairman, which must have been like losing Henry V on the night before Agincourt or Wellington on the eve of Waterloo. But they will probably get over it.Capello is better placed. To win the World Cup his team simply have to score more goals than their opponents either in open play or in any ensuing shoot‑outs. In South Africa the main demands placed on England will be technical and physical. In December, however, they will be asked to show a degree of political nous, in football terms, which may prove beyond them. Here those with long memories may find themselves pining for the days when Sir Stanley Rous, the imperious FA secretary who became Fifa president, gave England a global presence in the game's deliberations which it has never recovered. True, Geoff Thompson, a former FA chairman, is a Fifa vice‑president, which may come in useful although his self-effacing demeanour makes him not so much a presence as a rumour.At least England's hopes of hosting the next World Cup but two should not suffer the fate of the hamfisted effort to stage the 2006 tournament, which was all but beaten from the start when Germany claimed the FA had reneged on a promise to back its own bid in return for German support for Euro 96. England's campaign was over when Uefa backed Germany, who subsequently beat South Africa by 12 votes to 11 after the Fifa delegate from New Zealand, Charles Dempsey, had mysteriously abstained. That FA campaign cost £10m and gained England two votes in the second ballot, which even by modern standards of football extravagance seemed a mite expensive.The Germans' trump turned out to be Claudia Schiffer, who twinkled at the suits and probably persuaded a few of them that the Fatherland, hosts in 1974, might be worth another visit. The English equivalent this time is David Beckham, a supermodel in his way and probably more recognisable worldwide than Schiffer. In fact Beckham may serve his country better in 2010 through handshakes rather than free-kicks, although presumably he hopes to do both.Yet should he make Capello's final squad for South Africa it would surely be more an indication of the coach's narrowness of choice than the durability of Beckham's talents. Capello, an arch pragmatist, does not come across as one much in the habit of selecting a player whose main strength is seen when the ball is motionless.If Tottenham's Aaron Lennon maintains his present form and achieves more consistency with his crosses, the question may become irrelevant. Beckham could then concentrate onhis smile.World Cup 2018Fabio CapelloWorld Cup 2010David BeckhamDavid Laceyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Is it time for Rangers to cash in on Boyd? Should Rangers cash in on their coveted striker – or hold on to ensure a Scottish Premier League crown?If you are already fed up with Kris Boyd transfer speculation, there is little solace to be gained from the fact we are only in day seven of this transfer window.The Rangers striker has been Scottish football's most talked about player for some time now, on account of his prolific goalscoring despite his widely perceived shortcomings. Now, the debate over where he will spend the rest of this season – let alone the rest of his career – is keeping paper mills in operation.Boyd's recent form has been as timely as it is a potential annoyance to Rangers. Five goals against Dundee United on 30 December took the 26-year-old past Henrik Larsson's record as the Scottish Premier League's leading goalscorer. While that may be a slightly false claim to fame – the current league format is only a decade old – it does highlight how far ahead of the other strikers north of the border Boyd is in terms of finding the back of the net.Unfortunately for his club that touch, allied to a general improvement in his all-round play, has not gone unnoticed. Birmingham City and Middlesbrough lead the queue for Boyd's signature at a time, crucially, when he has only five months remaining on his contract. That, added to Rangers' widely publicised financial woes, represents a major problem for the Ibrox hierarchy.Boyd is apparently miffed that he is yet to be offered new terms in Glasgow, but the key subplot to this whole affair is that he has little interest in a move. If the former Kilmarnock player is to leave his boyhood heroes, it is thought he wants that to be in the summer at the earliest and to Newcastle United, by virtue of a childhood worship of Alan Shearer. It seemed Boyd was being deliberately obtuse a year ago when he priced himself out of a move to Birmingham, albeit Alex McLeish's current run at St Andrew's makes them now a more appealing draw.It is unlikely that Boyd would seek a vast improvement on his current £12,000-a-week salary to stay put. Rangers are due to get round the table with the player's representatives within days but, at a time when the club's first-team coaching staff are working without contracts, what chance has Boyd of being handed even slightly better terms?Potential salvation comes in the form of Pedro Mendes, the midfielder who is being tracked by Sporting Lisbon. If Rangers can offload Mendes, thought to be their highest earner, there could be scope to push some money Boyd's way. Mendes, initially influential after arriving from Portsmouth, currently doesn't seem much of a loss.Yet, as has become the way at Ibrox, such decisions are subject to greater scrutiny than ever. The club's board may have said in all sincerity at their recent annual general meeting that players do not need to be sold in January. However, that is an altogether different case from having to persuade bankers that such players categorically will not leave if a hard, cash offer comes in. A fee of about £1.5m for Boyd is relative peanuts to Birmingham but, added to a wage saving in excess of £200,000 until the summer, would surely be looked upon favourably by the bank.The job of Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, and the chief executive, Martin Bain, is to convince those at Lloyds that the potential £15m gain of a championship win and qualification for next season's Champions League outweighs those figures. There is no guarantee Rangers will win the SPL with Boyd in the team yet what is clear is that their challenge would be undermined significantly – if not fatally – by the departure of such a prolific scorer. Smith, already short on personnel, needless to say does not have another goal machine in reserve.There are those of us who partly hope Boyd moves to England so we could finally find out exactly how good he is. While his improvement has been marked this season, he has not turned into David Villa yet.Others, though, argue with a degree of legitimacy that scorers of Boyd's ilk have a natural talent that will allow them to blossom in any environment. The idea that he would score even more goals at a top English Premier League club because of a higher quality of supply, nonetheless, would seem to be undermined by the equally impressive ability of defences. Rangers, like Celtic, also create so many chances in Scotland that strikers of even moderate ability will thrive.Rangers and their supporters face an anxious 23 days. If a bid for Boyd is forthcoming – and it is almost certainly will – that conundrum involving the league title, a player who wants at least to see out the season and monetary worries must somehow be worked out.Those Rangers fans who have claimed season tickets will not be renewed if Boyd is allowed to leave should divert their attention to the previous, and not current, board regime at the club when seeking an explanation as to why every pound is a prisoner. Similarly, they should not get bogged down in the territory where one player is deemed more meaningful than the club itself.Boyd, though, is highly important to Rangers both in terms of points and pounds. The coming three weeks will tell which counts over the other at Ibrox.RangersTransfer windowScottish Premier LeagueEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Gold Coast reclaim top spot Gold Coast United reclaimed top spot and sent a warning to their A-League title rivals with a classy 1-0 win over Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium. foxsports.com.au |
Toronto FC signs midfielder Peterson Toronto FC signed midfielder Jacob Peterson from the Colorado Rapids on Thursday, the team announced in a release. cbc.ca |
Hamilton 0 Kilmarnock 0: match report Tomas Cerny's fine save from Mark Burchill was the only highlight of a dreadful game. telegraph.co.uk |