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Norway coach resigns

Norway manager Aage Hareide has stepped down as coach of Norway after 5 years in charge. Norway are currently bottom of their qualifying group with only 2 points.

The results speak for themselves and maybe it is better to inject some fresh blood,” said the 55-year-old.

Norway, who have suffered four defeats and four draws in 2008, visit Macedonia and Holland on World Cup qualifying duty in June.

Healy annoyed with Worthington

David Healy has vented his frustration with Northern Ireland manager after the manager criticised the fitness of the players.

Healey has played a bit part this season after moving to Sunderland and finds himself now battling with Kyle Lafferty and Martin Patterson for a starting place.

“Nigel basically blamed the players (after the 2-0 defeat by Hungary) which was disappointing,” he said.

“If the axe is going to come down on me it’s down to Nigel.”

Worthington focused on his team’s fitness for the 2-0 friendly defeat by the Hungarians at Windsor Park last month.

“They need to do more work - it is as simple as that,” he said.

“I cannot do anything, it is down to the players. Some of them are not getting regular games and they have got out of the mindset.

“They have got to go back to their clubs and do extra work because they are not fit enough.”

Healy has acknowledged the fact that his move to Sunderland hasn’t really worked out for him so far but is determined to show his worth and make an impact at the club.

Healy made it clear that e wasn’t happy with Worthington’s comments.

“There were five or six of us who weren’t playing regularly,” he added.

“If Nigel wants to make a point coming into the qualifiers where if club players aren’t in the team and leave me out that comes down to him to make the big decisions at the tight times.

“I have proved in the past that I can come back and play for Northern Ireland.

“People forget that I’d a lot of tough times, a lot of games where I wasn’t 100% fit.”

Sir Alex backs return of Auld Enemy match

Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the return of the old fixture which last took place in 1989 would give the whole country a boost. Although the fixture hasn’t been played annually for nearly 20 years Scotland an England have met in Euro 96 and qualification for Euro 2000.

“I’d welcome the return of the game,” said the Manchester United manager.

“It would be great to bring it back. There’s something special about this fixture and I’m sure it would bring the best out in the players.”

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have agreed “in principle” to play a series of three biennial “Celtic Cup” tournaments, starting next year.

“There are promising young lads in the Scotland team who would benefit from playing in this game and there would be such a determination to win,” said the Scot.

“It couldn’t be looked upon as a ‘friendly’. It would be great for the players to sample the atmosphere and occasion.

“I know I’m not alone in thinking this way. Many would love to see it on the calendar again.

“For example, Sir Bobby Charlton often talks to me about it and he’d love to see the Scotland v England game brought back.

“There would be a packed stadium, whether it’s Wembley or Hampden.

“Perhaps the match would also give the country a lift and be an occasion everyone looks forward to.”

Srna High on the List for Most Popular Player Award

November 30, 2008, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) have released the current standings of players participating in their Most Popular Player Award. Out of the 100 European born contestants, only one Croatian, Darijo Srna, was nominated. According to the popular vote at this time, Srna is doing remarkably well, as he has taken seventh place. Playing for Croatia and Shakhtar Donetsk, he is an asset to both teams and fully deserves to be in the top ten.

The Top Ten:
 1. Oscar David Suazo of Honduras
 2. Mohamed Aboutreika of Egypt
 3. Marcos of Brasil
 4. Rogerio Price of Brasil
 5. Faisal Agab Sido of Sudan
 6. Alireza Nikbakht Vehedi of Iran
 7. Darijo Srna of Croatia
 8. Yasser Al-Qahtani of Saudi Arabia
 9. Vladimir Bystrov of Russia
10. Alessandro Del Piero of Italy

The final result will be known January 3, 2009. To continue voting for Srna visit www.iffhs.de and click on ‘IFFHS User Votes.’

Jill Guthrie

England to play Holland friendly

England have announced they will play Holland on the 12th of August just before their remaining qualifying games of the 2010 World Cup.

This friendly match adds to the fixtures they already have lined up against Spain, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The last time England played in Amsterdam in 2006, Wayne Rooney grabbed the opening goal in a 1-1 draw.

As part of the deal, the Netherlands, who reached the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, will play a return fixture at Wembley in August 2011.

The Netherlands are placed fourth in the world in the latest Fifa rankings.

Scotland fail to move qualifier

Scotland had tried to move the date for their 2010 World Cup qualifier against Norway back to next October after the Group 9 match was brought forward due to Champions Leaue commitments but Fifa has refused to move the game back and said it must take place on Wednesday the 12th of August.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said: “We’re disappointed, but at least the date has been clarified and supporters can make their travel arrangements.”

The Scots are currently second in World Cup qualifying Group 9 with four points from three games.

Norway have two points from the same number of games, while the Netherlands top the group with nine points.

Scotland and Wales consider bid for Euro 2016

The Scottish FA have been keen on hosting the Euros tournament for quite some time and had contemplated a bid with Ireland before then looking at going it alone however new rules with regards the size of the tournament which is being expanded to 24 teams means that they will require a co-host.

Both the Welsh FA and The Scottish FA have admitted that the proposal is one that is up for discussion at their next meetings but that it is still at a very early stage.

Applications for the tournament are likely to be sought for Spring of 2009 with the regulations governing the new format likely to be set out early in the new year so that the countries can ases the feasibility of it.

Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or Trophy

Manchester united winger Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten a whole host of football superstars to pick up the Ballon d’Or trophy awarded by France Football magazine.

Ronaldo had a sensational season last year winning bothe the league and Champions league with Manchester united scoring 42 goals along the way.

“It is one of the most beautiful days of my life, something I dreamed of as a child,” said the 23-year-old winger.

Lionel Messi came second and Fernando Torres came 3rd witrh both having impressive seasons themselves but Ronaldo was far and above the best player last year.

“Great emotion fills me but I cannot really describe it,” Ronaldo continued.

“I was not worried, because I was aware of what I did in the course of the season.

“But to the people who mentioned my name, I say thank you. Thank you also to my team-mates.

“This (trophy) is one that I want to win again because it is so good.

“Therefore, I will wake and I will say to myself ‘I want to be even better’.”

The Portuguese international became only the fifth player to score more than 30 goals in a Premier League season as United pipped Chelsea to the domestic title.

Ronaldo’s tally of 42 goals earned him the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer, making him the first winger to collect that honour.

2008 Ballon d’Or voting

1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd) 446 points
2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 281 pts
3 Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 179 pts
4 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) 133 pts
5 Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona) 97 pts
6 Andriy Arshavin (Zenit St-Petersburg) 64 pts
7 David Villa (Valencia) 55 pts
8 Kaka (AC Milan) 31 pts
9 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan) 30 pts
10 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 28 pts
11 Marcos Senna (Villarreal) 16 pts
12 Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 12 pts
13 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 11 pts
14 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) 10 pts
15 Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 8 pts
16 Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) 7 pts
17 Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona) 6 pts
18 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) 5 pts
19 Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 4 pts
21 Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) 3 pts
24 Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), 2 pts

Dutch star to line up against Becks

Edgar Davids has been invited to play for Oceania next weekend to play aginst David Beckhams LA Galaxy. The Dutch midfielder who has 74 caps for his country is one of a number of stars invited to play in next weekend’s game.

Davids has had a sensational career having played with AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan and latterly Spurs. He has long been regarded as one of the best players in our generation and Pele even put him in his top 100 of greatest living footballers.

Christian Karembeu and Mark Bosnich are also set to play for the Oceania team .

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