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Ince promotes Robinson’s England chances

Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince believes that Paul Robinson should be reinstated as England’s number one after a number of ‘outstanding’ performances for the Premier League club.

England take on Germany in a friendly next week and Ince is of the view that this is the perfect opportunity for Robinson to return to the international fold for the first time since October last year.

Since his £3.5m move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer – after he was heavily criticised for his ‘limitations’ at the top level – the former Leeds United man has nailed down his spot in Blackburn’s team and Ince couldn’t be happier with his first-choice keeper.

The rookie boss described Robinson as a ‘commanding figure’ who has been firing on all cylinders since his move to Ewood Park. After a number of eye-catching saves in the recent Carling Cup win at Sunderland, it is Ince’s opinion that Robinson has ‘recaptured the form that won him a place in the England side’.

Ince went onto say that the newly focused and determined Robinson ‘should start the game in Germany’ for England next week. This isn’t too likely in my opinion though. Is Fabio Capello really the type of manager to bring someone in who hasn’t played for their country in over a year and shove them in goal for a game against Germany? I don’t think the football odds would back such a tactic.

Robinson does have every chance of making the squad though and this should make him happy enough. It would be satisfactory reward for his recent good form and would confirm the fact that he is in Capello’s thinking for the next few World Cup qualification games.

Speaking of the 2010 World Cup, there really are grounds for an interesting debate about who will be England’s number one keeper in South Africa, presuming the team qualify. David James is the current number one, but he will be pushing 40 by this time and his recent form has been rather inconsistent.

Other than the Portsmouth man, there is the likes of Joe Hart, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland and Robert Green – but none of these keepers have been as consistent as Robinson this season. So perhaps the 29-year-old can force his way into England’s starting eleven sooner than many people think.

By Thomas Rooney – A sports writer who blogs about football betting

Maradona in quit threat

Diego Maradona is threatening to quit as coach of Argentina before he has even taken charge of his first game.

Maradona is in dispute with Argentina’s FA over his choice as assistant. Maradona wishes to appoint Oscar Ruggeri however it is well known that Julio Crondin  who is the boss for Argentina’s FA has a problem with Ruggeri but won’t reveal what it is.

Maradona said: “I will be the trainer with my technical staff I want, otherwise I will not come to Glasgow,”

Carlos Bilardo, the Argentina FA’s technical secretary, insists Maradona will not carry out his threat.

“He won’t resign. I have spoken to Diego and told him he has to go slowly. There are 500 people he can choose to assist him,” said Bilardo.

“When I coached the national team (between 1983 and 1990) I had to change my whole staff after four or five months of work.

“But Diego wants them all at once.”

Croatia’s ‘Golden Boys’ Nominated for Award

Ivan Rakitic and Nikola Kalinic have been nominated to compete for this year’s ‘Golden Boy’ award held by the Italian Sport Daily, Tuttosport. The competition is to find the best U21 footballer of the year. The winner will be announced in the second week of December. From a list of 40 names, 30 sports journalists from 20 European countries will choose who takes the ‘Golden Boy’ title. As great footballers for Croatia’s national team and their clubs, both Rakitic and Kalinic have a good chance of winning.

The full list of 40 names:

Adu – Monaco, USA
Aguero – Atletico Madrid, Argentina 
Anderson – Manchester United, Brazil
Bale – Tottenham, Wales
Balotelli – Inter Milan, Italy
Banega – Atletico Madrid, Argentina
Bendtner – Arsenal, Denmark
Boateng – Tottenham, Germany
Brena – Bayern Munich, Brazil
Busquets – Barcelona, Spain
Derdiyok – Basel, Switzerland
Diego Capel – Sevilla, Spain
Di Maria – Benfica, Argentina
Di Santo – Chelsea, Argentina
Dos Santos – Tottenham, Mexico
Jovetic – Fiorentina, Montenegro
Kabore – Marseille, Burkina Faso
Kalinic – Hajduk, Croatia
Krkic – Barcelona, Spain
Kroos – Bayern Munich, Germany
Marcelo – Real Madrid, Brazil
Mata – Valencia, Spain
Mcedlidze – Palermo, Georgia
Okaka – Roma, Italy
Ozil – Werder, Germany
Papasathopoulos – Genoa, Greece
Pato – AC Milan, Brazil
Piatti – Almeria, Argentina
Pjanic – Lyon, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Rakitic – Schalke 04, Croatia
Ramsey – Arsenal, Wales
Renato Auguto – B. Leverkusen, Brazil
Richards – Manchester City
Sanchez – Udinese, Chile
Sarpong – Ajax, Netherlands
Sidnei – Benfica, Brazil
Simi – Pananthiniakos, Mozabique
Suleiman – Ajax, Serbia
Vela – Arsenal, Mexico
Walcott – Arsenal, England

Good luck to all of these talented players!

Jill Guthrie

England storm up Fifa rankings

England have climbed 4 places in the Fifa world rankings to re-enter the top 10. They are joint 10th with Portugal after making it 4 wins out of 4 in their World Cup qualifying group with victories against Kazakhstan and Belarus last month.

Scotland are falling quickly in the rankings at the moment as they struggle to find the form that so nearly got them to Euro 2008 earlier this year, they have now dropped to 33rd place.

The other home nations have dropped also with Wales falling to 62nd and Northern Ireland to 42nd after both teams won and lost a qualification game last month.

The top 10 is dominated by Europe with the top 4 all being European teams. Spain remain on top whilst Germany move up to second and Italy down to 3rd.

Jamaica are the biggest movers this month, climbing 33 places to 83rd place.

FIFA World Rankings

1. Spain (-)
2. Germany (+1)
3. Italy (-1)
4. Netherlands (+1)
5. Brazil (-1)
6. Argentina (+1)
7. Croatia (-1)
8. Russia (+1)
9. Czech Republic (-1)
10. Portugal (-), England (+4)

Selected others
33. Scotland (-7)
36. Republic of Ireland (+2)
42. Northern Ireland (-7)
62. Wales (-1)

Ferguson makes return to Scotland squad

Scotland and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has returned to the Scotland squad for the upcoming friendly against Argentina. Alan Hutton was also called up to the squad. Both players have missed the last couple of games through injury with Ferguson returning from 4 months on the sidelines.

“It’s great to include Barry in the squad, but I don’t think he’s 100% fit yet,” Scotland manager Burley said.

“Rangers have two more games to play, so we’ll be looking at it carefully.”

And Ferguson’s manager at Rangers, Walter Smith, believes the midfielder is ready to take his place in the starting XI.

“He’s fit enough now, but he’s obviously going to be short of match fitness and it will be doubtful if he would play for 90 minutes if selected,” said Smith.

“But I think George just wants him back and involved with the group.

“He is captain of the country and he has been out injured and has missed the international games while George has been there.

“The national team will be a decent thing for him at the moment to be quite honest. This will be a step in the right direction for him.”

Ross McCormack is also included in the squad as he has been in impressive form for Cardiff. Craig Gordon is also included but is struggling with injury and is not a definite to take part as he looks set to at least miss his clubs game this weekend.

“We’re hopeful of getting him back in the next week or two, but he definitely won’t be available for Blackburn.” said Keane.

“It’s just a very slow injury, he had a bad ankle twist about three weeks ago, and its one of them where it’s a very slow recovery.”

Gordon’s possible exclusion could mean a second international start for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Elsewhere, there is no place for Rangers defender David Weir or striker Garry O’Connor of Birmingham City.

And Burley was also unable to call on the services of Rangers Kevin Thomson, after the midfielder suffered a knee injury on Saturday that looks likely to have ended his season.

“Kevin was very much in our thoughts, I really feel for the boy,” said the Scotland manager.

“We have just got to keep our fingers crossed he recovers quickly.”

Scotland squad to face Argentina:

Goalkeepers

Craig Gordon (Sunderland), David Marshall (Norwich City), Allan McGregor (Rangers)

Defenders

Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Midfielders

Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby County), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Celtic), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Barry Robson (Celtic)

Forwards

David Clarkson (Motherwell), Steven Fletcher (Hibernian), Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ross McCormack (Cardiff City), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Kenny Miller (Rangers)

Nakamura set to miss World Cup Qualifier

Nakamura was added to a long list of injured players at Caltic Park after injuring his knee in Training on Thursday. The Japanese international was left out of the game on Saturday after seeing a specialist about his knee.

Nakamura said: “I feel pains in the inside of the left knee. It hurts when I try to kick a ball. I’m going to skip Saturday’s game,”

Nakamura is a key player for both Celtic and Japan and he is set to miss at least the next 2 games for Celtic and at the is moment looks unlikely to play in the next World Cup qualifier against Qatar, but there has been no diagnosis yet so there is still a chance for recovery.

The injury is another major blow to Japan who are expected to be without first-choice goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki after he injured his left ankle in training.

Needing “two-to-three weeks” of treatment,it is doubtful that Narazaki will be fully fit for the qualifier in Doha.

Japan, former Asian champions, beat Bahrain 3-2 away in their Group 1 opener in the final qualifying round and drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan at home.

Japan stand level with Qatar on four points, trailing Australia, who have a maximum six points from two straight wins. Bahrain and Uzbekistan have one point each.

Knezevic Out for Two Months

Croatian national team member, Dario Knezevic, injured his knee while playing for Juventus. During a game with Bologna, after a tackle, he had to leave the pitch with a swollen knee. He was then later examined at the Rijeka Medical Center in Croatia. The doctor reported that an operation was necessary due to a small piece of gristle in the knee tissue. After having the operation earlier this week, everything has been reported ok and Dario said after, “a little pain, but not terrible.” The doctors have revealed that he will be out for at least two months, possibly three.
 
Dario should be fully recovered and back in the game by Croatia’s next qualifier. The national team is also happy to announce that Niko Kranjcar is back from his injury and once again playing with Portsmouth. Also, Eduardo Da Silva is expected to be seen playing again for Arsenal sometime in the coming week. With the whole squad fully fit for next year, they will be a stronger side in the qualifiers to come.

Jill Guthrie  

Lehmann denied final farewell

Jens Lehmann was hoping to make a final appearance for Germany in a friendly against England on November the 19th in the stadium which he produced possible his best display for Germany back in 2006 when he saved 2 penalties in the World Cup Quarter Finals. Lowe however thinks there are more important issues to be dealt with.

“We have to use our friendly matches as a way of giving our young goalkeepers more experience at international level,” explained Loew.

“It would of course have been great for Jens to once more don the national team shirt.

“Especially against England, where he played for five years with Arsenal. However, the wider brief is the forthcoming sporting challenges and they must have priority.”

Loew, who guided Germany to the Euro 2008 final and now to the top of their World Cup qualifying group, did pay a handsome tribute to Lehmann, whose last appearance for Germany was in the 1-0 defeat by Spain in the Euro final.

“Jens brought a lot to German football and was for me an important go between during our four years together at international level,” said Loew.

The FA agree to defer Jamaica debt

The Jamaican Football Federation owes the FA £135,000 dating back to 2006 but the FA have agreed to wait until after the 2010 World Cup to take payment. The FA had feared that the issue could cause a row that would reflect badly on their bid for the 2018 World Cup.

The FA said in a statement: “The JFF acknowledge the outstanding debt of approximately £135,000 to The FA, arising from the friendly match played in England in June 2006.

“Having heard about all the circumstances, The FA agreed to defer consideration of the debt until after the 2010 World Cup.”

The FA also heard proposals from the JFF for a youth development facility on the Island and the idea of a friendly between the pair after the 2010 World Cup was also discussed.

Mascherano turns down Argentina captaincy

Maradona phoned Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and asked him to be captain of the national team but the Mascherano rejected the approach by legend Maradona.

“We had a short chat and he said: ‘I want you to be the captain of my team, so get ready’.

“He didn’t get the answer he was expecting. I am sorry for that but I told him the truth and that is that I don’t feel I can be the captain.

“I don’t have so much personality inside the dressing room.

“I can put all my energy and strength on to the pitch and maybe can show the way to some of my team-mates. But off the pitch I am not the same. A captain has to be born to the role.

“Diego is a very good person and I hope that he doesn’t get offended with my decision.

“I just don’t feel that I’m right for it. A leader is someone that everyone listens to and that doesn’t happen to me because I don’t talk so much in the dressing room. I hope he will understand.”

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