TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| I really value FA Cup: Benitez Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists the FA Cup is more important than ever as the Reds battle to avoid a fourth successive season without a major trophy. foxsports.com.au |
Portsmouth fail to pay players Crisis-hit Barclays Premier League club Portsmouth took another step into the unknown after failing to pay their players for the third time this season. foxsports.com.au |
Egypt shine as World Cup sides stumble in Africa Cup of Nations The majority of the big nations have failed to impress in the early stages of the tournamentFour years ago, at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, El-Hadji Diouf proclaimed that the "wrong teams" were going to the World Cup as the likes of Angola, Togo and Ghana failed to make it through the group phase. Had Senegal qualified this time round, it is easy to imagine him expressing the same opinion even more forcefully after none of the teams who have made it to South Africa won their first game.Algeria, England's group stage opponents, suffered the most spectacular setback, being hammered 3-0 by Malawi, the Flames' first ever victory in the Nations Cup, before recovering to beat Mali 1-0 in what was probably the poorest game of the tournament so far."In the first game the problem was the weather," said Algeria's Rangers centre-back Madjid Bougherra. "In the second game the weather wasn't so bad, and we improved."That does not sound the most convincing excuse, but it is one that has been repeated by a number of teams, including the hosts. It may be that the World Cup sides have generally underperformed not because their minds are already in South Africa, which would be the obvious inference, but because they have the most European-based players, and it is they who have found it hardest to adjust. Ivory Coast, notably, played far more authoritatively on Friday against Ghana, when their game kicked off at 7.30pm local time than they had in drawing 0-0 against Burkina Faso on Monday afternoon.There are also, though, more specific reasons for underperformance. For Algeria, for instance, the change from a back three to a four also seemed to help. "It makes us stronger," Bougherra went on. "It needs less movement from us." Angola also changed form a three to a four for their second game, and it was notable that although Egypt beat Nigeria, their back three was vulnerable to diagonal balls played behind the wing-back. It may be, as a lone forward becomes increasingly common in Africa, that three at the back will fade away. Nonetheless, Algeria were not that much improved, and rumours persist that relations between the coach, Rabah Saadane, and his squad are uneasy.Ghana, meanwhile, are ravaged by injury, with Stephen Appiah, John Mensah, John Paintsil, Laryea Kingston and Anthony Annan all out, and Michael Essien clearly inconvenienced by a hamstring problem, and it would be misleading to read too much into their defeat to Ivory Coast. "We must see this as a positive," said their coach Milovan Rajevac, "and take the opportunity to test the young players." Four of the side that won the Under-20 World Cup last year played on Friday.A familiar sense of chaos, meanwhile, envelops Nigeria, and it must be particularly familiar for their coach Shaibu Amodu who, having led Nigeria to World Cup qualification in 2002, was dismissed after taking his side to the semi-finals of the Cup of Nations. They failed to qualify in 2006 under Berti Vogts, but Amodu got them – just – to South Africa with a squad significantly inferior to that of eight years ago. Still, he is expected to reach the semi-finals, and there was little sign of them having the wherewithal to do that after a 3-1 defeat to Egypt in their opening game. The vultures are circling despite the 1-0 win over Benin yesterday, and there are already reports that Bora Milutinovic, who led them at the 1998 World Cup, might step in for a record sixth tournament.Egypt have looked the only truly coherent side so far, motivated by the twin aims of becoming the first team to win a third straight Cup of Nations, and by fury at their failure to qualify for the World Cup."We've won the last two CANs, and we had good results in the Confederations Cup," said the forward Mohamed Zidan, whose performances have suggested Amr Zaki won't be missed. "We deserved to go to the World Cup. We are the best team ever in Egyptian football. Everybody in Egypt says we are the best group of players of all time."The best answer for the fans, for the people and for ourselves would be to defend our title. We've a point to prove to ourselves."So far, they are the only major nation making any kind of point.Africa Cup of NationsEgyptAlgeriaNigeria football teamGhanaJonathan Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Arsenal defender William Gallas to escape FA action after tackle on Bolton's Mark Davies Arsenal defender unlikely to be punished for challenge on Bolton's Mark Davies but Arsene Wenger apologises for tackle. telegraph.co.uk |
Dunn commits to Blackburn Rovers until 2012 • 'I think everyone is aware what this club means to me'• 'The run of form I have had has been a big boost'The Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Dunn has signed a new two and a half year contract, the club have announced. The deal ties the 30-year-old to Rovers until summer 2012.Dunn has been one of Blackburn's best performers this season and is their highest scorer with six goals, five of which have been scored in the Premier League."I'm obviously very pleased to commit my future to the club. I've been itching to get something done for quite a while," said Dunn, who was born locally in Great Harwood and returned to his former club from Birmingham in 2007 when offered the chance by then manager Mark Hughes."There were other options but I think everyone is aware what this club means to me. I've been away before and I didn't like it so this is the place I want to be playing. I'm pleased things have been done and I can concentrate just on playing football now."Dunn, who missed much of last season with niggling injuries, has been an integral part of manager Sam Allardyce's team this season and has managed to stay fit for most of the campaign so far. "I'm really pleased with how things have gone this year," he told Rovers Player."The run of form I have had lately has been a big boost to me and one I want to carry on. The goals are going in and other than the little blip just before Christmas the appearances have been going up and hopefully I can play an important part until the end of the season."Blackburn Roversguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |