| Jets in hunt for striker Newcastle Jets coach Branko Culina is hunting for a new striker, bolstered by the resources new owner Nathan Tinkler has thrown behind the club. foxsports.com.au |
Blatter praises England's example • Fifa president impressed by England 2018 World Cup bid• English methods 'would have prevented Genoa trouble'Sepp Blatter has praised England's efforts to eradicate hooliganism, and claimed similar measures would have prevented the trouble at the match between Italy and Serbia last night.The Fifa president was speaking after meeting David Cameron, the prime minister, in Downing Street, where Blatter received a presentation on England's bid for the 2018 World Cup. The Swiss said he was impressed by the bid, and urged other national associations to replicate the all-seat stadiums and lack of fences at the country's leading clubs.Last night's Euro 2012 qualifier in Genoa was abandoned after only seven minutes due to trouble involving Serbia fans. Blatter said: "England is the motherland of football. England has given so much to football, and England is going on to carry on giving much to football. Your predecessors were in a very difficult situation from 1985 to 1989 and so on. I don't want to speak about what happened then, but the reaction you have made."You have given to the world security in the stadiums. You have built all your stadia, there are no fences and everyone is sitting. If this had been the case we would not have had the problems we had in Genoa yesterday at the match. This is a big legacy, an important legacy you have given to the world."If only all the national associations in the world, and their leagues [had stadiums like this], we would have more fair play in our game."You did it - it's a question of organisation and it is also a question of discipline and respect. You did it here - and now we say where are the hooligans?"They are not in the stadium and this is a compliment to your government and your predecessors."Blatter watched Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons before going to 10 Downing Street for the presentation and lunch with Cameron, who was unable to meet him on his visit in August as his wife was about to give birth.Cameron stressed the value of England's global legacy plans, which include matching Fifa's estimated £75m annual investment in grassroots football. Blatter added: "Now England can organise the World Cup tomorrow, England can organise the World Cup – that's not a problem, but what you are doing is a World Cup for the world. The situation is such that your bid has impressed me personally. I will report to the executive committee when they meet [at the end of October] before the 2 December decision."Fabio Capello was among those at Number 10 and Blatter even made a joke about England's disappointing 0-0 draw against Montenegro. He added: "I wish you good luck, and I hope the goals are scored ... more than yesterday."Cameron promised the government's full backing to the 2018 bid and paid tribute Blatter for having taken the World Cup to South Africa.The prime minister also stressed England's work in tackling racism in football – an issue that has bedevilled their bid rivals Russia. Cameron said: "I hope you see that England has got what it takes to host the greatest tournament on earth. I hope you can see how much our country wants this."Most important of all, I hope you have seen the real legacy that we plan to leave. Our bid is not about not what the World Cup can do for one country it's about what the World Cup can do for the world."The Prime Minister stressed the passion for the game in England, and the stadiums, transport links and infrastructure already in place.He went on: "We are the most diverse football nation in the world and we have travelled so far in kicking racism right out of football and that is one of the reasons why I believe we can make 2018 such a success."England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson said the visit had been "excellent" for the bid.He said: "One thing the president mentioned today was our long-established credibility in dealing with hooliganism and that's fantastic to hear."Sepp BlatterWorld Cup 2018Football violenceFifaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
David Beckham says he'll play out contract for L.A. Galaxy David Beckham plans to play out the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011 while continuing to hope he'll play for England ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
U.S. Expects Soccer’s Rise if It Hosts Cup in 2022 United States soccer officials will learn on Thursday if the U.S. has won the right to host the World Cup in 2022. feeds.nytimes.com |
Tioté will be a star, says Drogba • 'Newcastle fans have seen only half of Tioté's potential so far'• Chelsea draw makes amends for Bolton defeat, says AmeobiCheik Tioté has been tipped to emerge as one of the Premier League's biggest names. The Newcastle United holding midfielder, signed from FC Twente for £3.5m in the summer, is widely regarded as an inspired signing but his Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Drogba believes Tioté's best is yet to come."I think Cheik is going to go on and be one of the strongest players in this league," said the Chelsea centre-forward, whose side were thwarted by Tioté as they drew 1-1 at St James' Park on Sunday. "I have to say that physically he is a bit stronger than me. Newcastle well and truly have a star player on their hands in Cheik."I think their supporters have only seen half of his potential so far. You have only seen half the player but the more Cheik plays at Premier League level the better he will become."Tioté was not a regular at FC Twente last season, then managed by Steve McClaren, but 24-year-old was certainly missed when suspension cost him his place during Newcastle's last away outing, at Bolton Wanderers, where they lost 5-1.His team-mate Shola Ameobi regards the draw against Chelsea as a form of redemption in the wake of that humiliation at the hands of Owen Coyle's team."We needed a big performance from everyone against Chelsea," said Ameobi, who captained Chris Hughton's side in the injured Kevin Nolan's absence. "We had to be at our best, we had to dig in at times and I thought we were brilliant at doing that."This team has the right attitude and it does the right thing after a setback. We've got some great characters in the dressing room who want to do well, want to win and want to succeed. It's great to have done well against Chelsea because, again, we've shown we can hold our own against the best teams in the division."We had to take the pain of Bolton. You can't just forget about something like that and brush it under the carpet like it didn't happen. It hurt and it wasn't until Tuesday afternoon that we closed that game down as a team."The striker, who has impressed since being recalled to play alongside Andy Carroll in the wake of Hughton's reversion to 4-4-2, offered an explanation for Newcastle's erratic form which invariably sees them shine against the division's leading lights before slipping up against less celebrated opponents."It is a little annoying our best performances keep coming against the best teams and then we drop points against the others," said Ameobi. "When we play the top teams, I think we're naturally a bit more cautious. We have a good shape and we limit them to a few chances. We are a lot more solid and we don't let them play."We have to take that into every single game. When we are playing a team we feel we should be beating, we've been a little bit too gung ho and left ourselves open at the back. It's about getting that balance right. We are still finding our feet back in the Premier League and we're not quite there yet."Newcastle UnitedDidier DrogbaLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |