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Poland face possible suspension

Poland preparation for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers as well as their hosting of Euro 2012 is under threat after they were threatened with suspension from international competition due to government interference.

Poland and Ukraine are set to co-host Euro 2010 and only last week Platini backed the 2 countries to host the tournament but the possible suspension could throw that into doubt again as Fifa an Uefa have refused to recognise the administrator of the Polish Football association as he has been appointed by the government.

“Fifa and Uefa will now start joint consultation to decide the measures to be taken,”

Fifa have their next meeting on the 23rd and 24th of October when this issue is likely to be discussed further and further action decided.

Poland were threatened with suspension in 2007 and being thrown out of the Euro 2008 qualifying due to the suspension of the Polish FA by the Sports minister and this latest debacle could be one too many for Fifa and Uefa.

Kovac to miss four World Cup qualifiers

Robert Kovac is to miss Croatia’s next 4 qualifying matches after being sent off the field due to the foul on Joe Cole in their last match with England. He will miss the last two games of this year and the first two of next year. During the England game, Kovac earned his 80th appearance in a Croatia jersey, and it has been said it could have been his last national game. Hopefully it is not true, as he is a valuable member of the squad.
 
Coach Slaven Bilic announced on Monday the 29th the lineup for the next two matches against Andorra and the Ukraine.

Goal: Stipe Pletikosa, Vedran Runje, Danijel Subasic

Defense: Vedran Corluka, Josip Simunic, Dario Knezevic, Hrvoje Vejic, Ivica Krizanac, Dino Drpic, Danijel Pranjic

Midfield: Niko Kovac, Luka Modric, Dario Srna, Ivan Rakitic, Jerko Leko, Ognjen Vukojevic, Nikola Pokrivac, Ivo Ilicevic

Forward: Mladen Petric, Ivica Olic, Ivan Klasnic, Nikola Kalinic, Mario Mandzukic

Jill Guthrie   

Poland and Ukraine still to host Euro 2012

There had been fears that the 2 countries had fallen too far behind in their preparations for the tournaments but they have been assured that the tournament will take place there but t5hey need to improve their infrastructure ahead of the European Championships in 2012.

Platini said: “Both host countries must continue to make the necessary efforts.

“Any slackening could put in doubt the organisation of this tournament in these countries. Warsaw and Kiev are the key issues.”

A Uefa inspection took place over the summer and the results were meant to be critical but more of the infrastructure such as hotels and transport rather than the stadiums but Uefa stressed that the decision to hold the tournament in these countries was final .

“It’s not about the stadia, it’s about the infrastructure, hotels and transport,”

“We were promised new airports and we will not have new airports, we were promised new roads and we are still waiting.

“We cannot organise a European competition if the capitals are not participating.”

Both host countries admit that preparations have fallen behind due to political instability in bot h countries but with new governments now in place progress has been made over the last 6 months however it is believed that this progress isn’t constant.

Euro Championship to be extended

Uefa have decided that from 20160 onward the European championships will include 24 teams instead of the current 16.

Franz Beckenbauer said: “Yes for sure it’s going to be 24 teams,”

“The European Championships will not lose any quality by that.”

The proposal to extend the competition was put forward by the Scottish and Irish FA and all 53 nations voted unanimously in favour of the plan which will mean that a lot of countries including Scotland and Ireland will no longer be able to host the tournament as they won’t have enough stadiums.

Gordon Smith said: “I think the expansion will be better for the game - more teams will have the chance of qualifying and the excitement of the groups will go on for longer,”

“It is disappointing in that it means we will not be able to stage the tournament in the future, and we recognise that will be the case.

“It was a trade-off between trying to stage it or open up the qualification process and we have decided to look at something that helps everybody.”

The rise in the number of countries able to compete should make it easier for the home nations to qualify.

“It will make it easier for other countries such as England who failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

“We didn’t do it specifically for that purpose however.”

Croatia fined for racism

The Croatian football federation has been fined £15,000 over racist abuse towards Emile Heskey in the World Cup qualifier earlier this month.

Emile Heskey was abused with the sound of monkey chants after he was given a yellow cartd for fouling one o f the Croatian players.

“You have to let the people above deal with that and I will carry on playing my game,” said Heskey.

A Fifa statement said : “Racism has no place in football.

“Fifa is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination.”

Croatia have been fined before by Fifa was racial abuse and Heskey has suffered from it playing with the national team most notably against Spain.

An FA spokesman said: “We repeat our position that we will not accept any racial abuse of any England players. There can be no place for racist behaviour in football or society.”

England Under 21 Playoff to be played at Villa Park

The venues for the under 21 playoff between England and Wales have been announced. The first game will take place at Ninian Park on the 10th of October and the second on the 14th at Villa Park.

Prices have been set low for the ties so as to attract a bigger crowd.

“It is Ninian Park’s last season so this is likely to be one of the last international matches played there,”

“We hope to make it an occasion and make it an 11,000 sell-out”.

England finished top of the group but Pearce expects a tough match.

“Wales are probably as strong as they have ever been at this level, with several players experienced in senior internationals,”

“Whenever the British teams meet there is always that special edge to the game, especially with the stakes being so high.

“It will be an exciting night at Villa Park and it’s that sort of atmosphere that we want to create for the under-21s.

“The team showed against Portugal at Wembley last month that they relish playing in front of a big support and I can only see it helping them as a group.”

Dario Simic Says Farewell to National Team

After earning his 100th cap for the Croatia National team during a friendly match with Slovenia, Dario Simic has decided to end his national career. He entered the world stage with Croatia in 1996, and he had his big moment in the World Cup of 1998 when he helped his country finish in 3rd place. He has not played since his 100th game, spending the match with Kazakhstan on the bench and he was amongst the crowd when they met with England.

This great footballer started out at Dinamo Zagreb and later moved to Inter Milan in Italy. He started playing for Inter’s rival team, AC Milan in 2002 and this past summer he moved to Monaco. He will be greatly missed on the national side but he has gone out with a remarkable record.

Jil Guthrie

Australia keen to get Cahill back in squad

Australian manager Pim Verbeek is keen to get Tim Cahill back in the squad for the next round of World Cup qualifiers after watching the midfielder earn his side a victory 2 weeks ago and a point at the weekend as he looks to try and regain his full fitness.

As long as Cahill can stay injury free he will be selected for the next round.

“I’m very pleased with Tim,”

“He played for 80 minutes last Saturday so let’s hope that he will stay fit in the coming weeks.

“After five months not playing and scoring such an important goal we know how important he can be for us, so hopefully he will remain fit.

“And if he’s fit, for sure I will select him for the Qatar game.”

Verbeek is also hoping to recall Vince Grella after injury and there could also be a return for Harry Kewell.

“I was there a few weeks ago, spoke with him, saw him play, saw the environment that he is living in at the moment - he looks very happy,”

Things look less hopeful for Mark Viduka though as he is struggling to recover in time from injury.

“It doesn’t look good at all,” Verbeek said. “But when I spoke to him last April he was very confident of being a member of the Socceroos.

“He said his contract will finish in 2010, and there’s nothing better than finishing at a World Cup.

“I am very pleased with my strikers, but we don’t have a player with the same special qualities like Viduka.”

Former Australia captain Craig Moore has made himself available for selection again after coming out of international retirement.

“It’s great that he has found out that he is physically and mentally fit enough to join the group - now it is up to me to find out if I will select him, because I didn’t give him any guarantees,”

Robinson still the best claims Ince

Paul Ince is still convinced that his new signing Paul Robinson is the best mean to be in goal for England and still rates him as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Robinson had a fantastic game at the weekend and he kept a clean sheet as his side won 1-0 against Fulham.

“I said when I bought him he was the best keeper in the league and he proved that with two great saves,”

“I’ve felt sorry for Paul over the last two weeks because he’s conceded eight goals but none of them have been down to him,”

“Because of where he’s come from and where he’s at with England, people will always look at Paul conceding goals. But here you saw what a world-class keeper he is.”

Blackburns opponents Fulham could have little complaints about the result as manager Roy Hodgson said :

“I thought we were looking pretty good value for a draw and it was unfortunate that Blackburn got the break and we didn’t.

“It was an even game in which we gave a very good account of ourselves. It’s disappointing not to get a point but it would have been more disappointing if the performance had been worse, and I thought it was more than satisfactory.

“Goals decide games and they got the goal. We had our chances to win the game in both halves with Paul Robinson twice pulling off good saves from Andy Johnson.”

Celtic nation’s tournament in 2011

The 4 home nations Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have agreed to play a tournament in 2011. The tournament will take place in Dublin with 2 games in February and the other 4 in May.

“I’m delighted this has become a reality,” said Scottish FA president George Peat.

“This new event will celebrate the game and give our fans a great experience.”

The English FA refused to take part in the event but there is excitement amongst the participating nations over the tournament which has been discussed for a long time.

Chief executive of the Irish FA was happy that his country would be hosting the event saying:

“This will be the first time Ireland has hosted a senior international tournament and the atmosphere around Dublin will be tremendous with all the travelling fans,”

“With so many connections between the countries there are bragging rights at stake, and it’s sure to grab the attention of people across the UK and Ireland.”

The initial meeting to discuss the tournament took place in Wales and the Welsh FA said:

“We look forward to crossing swords with our two cousins across the Irish Sea, as well as Scotland in a friendly rivalry,”

The Northern Ireland FA said:

“It also gives fans a chance to see first class competition live, and within easy access,”

Scotland manager George Burley has expressed his excitement of the tournament and looks forward to the support of the Tartan Army.

“We will have two games and that will be exciting. I am sure the people of the Republic will be looking forward to that and the Tartan Army will be out in force,” said Burley.

“All these fixtures are never easy to fit into the calendar but these dates suit everyone at the minute.

“I’m sure we’ll look at it and see how it goes and if it’s a success for everyone then we can try and carry it on.”

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