Latest World Cup News

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LAMPARD HAILS ITALIAN MENTALITY

Frank Lampard believes the "winning mentality" of Italian bosses Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Capello has given him high hopes of a successful season for club and country.

The Chelsea and England midfielder has welcomed the appointment of Ancelotti, a two-time Champions League winner as AC Milan coach, at Stamford Bridge as the Blues aim to deny Manchester United a fourth Premier League title in a row.

At international level Lampard has been hugely impressed by Capello, who also had great success at club level with Milan as well as Real Madrid before leading England to the brink of qualification for next summer's World Cup.

Lampard told The Sun: "Most importantly (Ancelotti and Capello) have the winning mentality.

"That's why they have won so many trophies in their careers. 'Must win' is the only way for them and they don't accept slacking off in games or training.

"Modern football is a lot about winning the ball back quickly and both managers train us to do that - it's a very Italian trait.

"One of the things we needed in English football was to learn the importance of being a difficult team to beat. That is the foundation stone and you build everything else on top."

 

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LAMPS EYES WORLD CUP GLORY

Frank Lampard insists England will be among the contenders at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Three Lions have breezed through qualification so far, with maximum points taken from their seven games to date.

The dismal failings of the Steve McClaren era have been laid to rest, with Fabio Capello finally bringing the best out of a squad brimming with world-class talent.

Expectations will be high heading to South Africa next summer, but Lampard believes England are capable of tasting global glory.

"I'm wary of falling into the trap where people ask if you can win it, you say you can, and then expectations rise," the Chelsea midfielder told Sky Sports News.

"Of course we can win it, though. We are playing as well as we have done for a long time and there is a real confidence and togetherness about the group."

Lampard expects the current holders of the world crown, Italy, and reigning European champions Spain to lead the charge for honours once again in 2010, but claims England will fear no-one heading into the tournament.

"They (Italy) are always there or thereabouts so they will be one of the teams to beat," he added.

"On current form Spain seem to be THE team to beat, with the players and individuals they have.

"But a lot can change in a year and that's what tournaments are all about. It's all about arriving there in the right shape, mentally and physically."

Capello certainly appears to have England in good shape, with Lampard happy to admit that the Italian tactician has played an integral role in the team's recent resurgence.

"One of the things we needed in English football was to learn the importance of being a difficult team to beat," he told The Sun.

"That is the foundation stone and you build everything else on top."

 

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LANGFIELD READY FOR OSLO DUTY

Jamie Langfield has told George Burley he is ready to solve Scotland's goalkeeping crisis in Norway next week.

National team boss Burley has been left with a massive headache for the crucial World Cup qualifier which will be played a week on Wednesday, with regular number one Craig Gordon not yet fully recovered from knee surgery.

With former second-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor banned from representing his country again, Burley must pick from a trio who have only five caps between them. Neil Alexander and David Marshall are the other two goalkeepers selected for the squad.

Langfield has yet to play a senior international but insists the way he has handled European football at Aberdeen proves he has what it takes to fill the void left by Gordon.

"I heard the manager say he's got three goalkeepers that he believes can do a job for their country," Langfield told Red TV.

"I've played in European games myself and obviously you play big games for this club against the likes of Rangers and Celtic.

"So hopefully that stands me in good stead."

Nevertheless, Langfield knows he would not be in the squad but for the absence of Gordon and McGregor.

"There's a little bit of misfortune elsewhere, obviously for Craig and Allan," he said.

"But other people's misfortune is my gain and I just want to go away and give a good account of myself, work hard, and hopefully show the coaching staff and Mr Burley what I'm all about."

The 29-year-old accepts he probably starts bottom of the pecking order behind Alexander and Marshall, but he is determined to make the most of his chance to impress.

Asked who was favourite to start in Oslo, Langfield said: "The manager has to look at that when we go away but, obviously, the thing about the other two boys is that they've got good caps behind them.

"If I do get the chance to play then hopefully I can play well.

"I've played in big games so hopefully I'll get the chance."

Langfield dubbed his call-up as a confidence boost after shipping five goals in Aberdeen's Europa League defeat to Sigma Olomouc last week.

Although he was not to blame for the result, he has struggled to shake the nickname 'Clangers' and hopes the news will see him lose the moniker for good.

However, there was no respite from his team-mates on Tuesday.

"You don't get praised, you just get a bit of stick," said Langfield.

"But deep down, they're delighted for me."

 

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GORDON BLOW FOR BURLEY

Scotland boss George Burley has challenged his rookie goalkeepers to fill the void left by Craig Gordon after being forced to leave the Sunderland star out of his squad for the World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Gordon has been struggling to regain full fitness following knee surgery at the start of May and Burley admitted it would have taken "a miracle" for the 26-year-old to have been ready for next Wednesday's crucial Group Nine showdown in Oslo.

With long-time understudy Allan McGregor having been banned for life from representing his country, Burley has been left with a trio of keepers boasting only five caps between them.

The Scotland boss admitted Gordon's absence was "a huge loss" but called on Neil Alexander, David Marshall and the uncapped Jamie Langfield to stake a claim to replace him during training in the next week.

"We've brought three goalkeepers who are desperate to play," Burley said after unveiling his 23-man squad at Hampden this morning.

"David Marshall, of course, has been involved in the squad before. Neil Alexander has done terrifically well in the last couple of months with Rangers, picking up the title - and he's had a good pre-season. Jamie Langfield, I saw playing for Aberdeen last week.

"I think Neil's got a game on Wednesday, David Marshall plays on Saturday in the Championship, so we've got competition there. There's no doubt Craig will be a loss, but it will give somebody else an opportunity."

Despite his bullishness, it is telling Burley tried to give Gordon as long as possible to prove his fitness.

The former Hearts keeper is one of a number of injury absentees Scotland have been forced to contend with.

Stephen McManus, Gary Naysmith, Kirk Broadfoot, Barry Robson, James Morrison and Chris Iwelumo are all out.

That has led to a a first call-up for three years for Burnley captain Steven Caldwell, who could partner brother Gary at the heart of the defence.

Preston full-back Callum Davidson is also recalled, as is Celtic winger Shaun Maloney.

There was a surprise call for Rangers striker Steven Naismith, who earned his sole senior cap more than two years ago.

Talismanic forward James McFadden is back in the fold for the first time since November.

But there is no place for veteran Rangers defender David Weir, whose distinguished international career looks to be at an end.

"David was fantastic, one of the best professionals I've ever worked with," said Burley.

"I've got other centre halves there: Christophe Berra and (Darren) Barr - who are young - Gary Caldwell, Steven Caldwell is a player who I've looked at."

Burley was particularly enthused by Burnley stopper Caldwell, saying: "There's no doubt he's grown in stature and strength - matured as a centre half - and I think it was time to maybe bring him in when he's at the peak of his career.

"David has been great and I wish we had more professionals in Scotland like David Weir. But I think, coming 40, maybe it was a time to have a look at Steven."

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown was included in the squad, despite only recently returning from ankle surgery, with Burley desperate for the dynamic midfielder to prove his fitness.

"With Scott, it's one day at a time," he said.

"But there's no doubt that a fully fit Scott Brown's something that Scotland need and I'm sure Celtic want him back to that 100% fitness as well."

Match fitness is likely to be Burley's biggest concern going into next week's game, which could see Scotland tighten their grip on second place in Group Nine.

Scottish clubs have already suffered in Europe this term after playing sides who are well into their domestic seasons.

The same applies to Norway, who are bottom of the group, and Burley admitted Scotland would be unable to match their opponents' fitness.

"Well, you can't," he said.

"I don't think fitness is a problem because the players have been back five or six weeks.

"We'll be keeping it nice and sharp and bright and it'll be down to attitude as well of course."

Squad: N Alexander (Rangers), Langfield (Aberdeen), Marshall (Cardiff); Barr (Falkirk), Berra (Wolves), G Caldwell (Celtic), S Caldwell (Burnley), Davidson (Preston), Hutton (Tottenham), McAllister (Bristol City), Whittaker (Rangers); Alexander (Burnley), Brown (Celtic), Commons (Derby), D Fletcher (Manchester United), Hartley (Bristol City), Maloney (Celtic), McFadden (Birmingham); Clarkson (Bristol City), S Fletcher (Burnley), McCormack (Cardiff), Miller (Rangers), Naismith (Rangers).

 

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VIEIRA TOLD HE NEEDS TO PLAY

Raymond Domenech insists Patrick Vieira needs to be playing regularly before he will be recalled by France.

The 33-year-old Inter Milan midfielder was a notable omission from his squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Domenech opted to hand a first call-up to Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, leaving 107-cap Vieira out in the cold.

Vieira has been tipped to rejoin Arsenal this summer, although Domenech does not mind which club he is at as long as he is playing regularly.

"Pat needs to play a lot to feel good and to get back to his best level," explained Domenech.

"He has to keep playing. I hope he will start playing - at Arsenal or Inter Milan."

 

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VIEIRA TOLD HE NEEDS TO PLAY

Raymond Domenech insists Patrick Vieira needs to be playing regularly before he will be recalled by France.

The 33-year-old Inter Milan midfielder was a notable omission from his squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Domenech opted to hand a first call-up to Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, leaving 107-cap Vieira out in the cold.

Vieira has been tipped to rejoin Arsenal this summer, although Domenech does not mind which club he is at as long as he is playing regularly.

"Pat needs to play a lot to feel good and to get back to his best level," explained Domenech.

"He has to keep playing. I hope he will start playing - at Arsenal or Inter Milan."

 

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NAISMITH READY TO GRASP CHANCE

Steven Naismith insists he would not even bother getting on the plane to Norway next week if he did not believe he had a chance of earning his first Scotland cap for more than two years.

Naismith has been handed a surprise recall by manager George Burley for next Wednesday night's crucial World Cup qualifier in Oslo and is hoping to add to the sole cap he earned against the Faroe Islands in June 2007.

That came while the Rangers striker was still a Kilmarnock player, ahead of what has proven an injury-plagued Ibrox career.

"I wouldn't be going if I didn't feel I had a chance," said the 22-year-old, whose opening has ironically arrived due to injuries to others.

"There's a lot of good players in the squad, very experienced ones as well.

"It'll be great just to go along, get in the set-up and if I can force my way in then that's great."

Naismith dubbed his call-up "a massive bonus", admitting his main focus was holding down a first-team place at Rangers following an encouraging pre-season.

"Over the couple of years I've been here, it's been stop-start, stop-start, so my main aim is just to get as many games as possible for Rangers," said Naismith, who returned in January from an eight-month absence with a knee injury.

Joining Naismith in the squad is Ibrox team-mate Neil Alexander.

And Naismith revealed he broke the news to the goalkeeper, who has now jumped ahead of Allan McGregor in the pecking order for both club and country after the latter was banned from representing Scotland ever again.

Naismith said of Alexander: "I told him about it and, again, he was very excited.

"He came here as a number two but circumstances throughout his career at Rangers gave him a lot of chances and I think he's taken his chances really well, so I think it is deserved for him."

Those sentiments were echoed by Rangers boss Walter Smith, who said: "Anybody that watched us toward the end of last season, he played really well."

On Naismith, Smith added: "We're very pleased that George has taken him. He's started the season very well, he's looking very bright, his level of fitness is fantastic and it's a nice little lift for him to get that."

 

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BURLEY STANDS UP FOR FLETCHER

George Burley insists there can be no doubting Darren Fletcher's commitment to his country despite the Manchester United midfielder rejecting the Scotland boss' plea to sit out Sunday's Community Shield match.

Burley had been desperate for the 25-year-old to miss this weekend's curtain-raiser against Chelsea in case he was not fully fit for next Wednesday night's crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway.

The national team manager had been in discussions with the player and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson over the issue, but Press Association Sport understands Fletcher did not want to jeopardise his place in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

His decision has raised questions over whether he is placing a greater emphasis on a glorified friendly than Scotland's most important match in almost two years.

But Burley, who confirmed Fletcher would captain the side in Oslo, said: "There's nobody more committed to his country than Darren Fletcher.

"He's obviously been faced with a difficult situation, the chance to play at Wembley in a team where competition for places is fierce.

"I'm sure many other players would have taken the same decision.

"He'll join us up at the team hotel on Sunday and he'll captain us as we look to get the three points we all want so much in Norway."

It is not only the match fitness of Fletcher that will concern Burley, who yesterday named a 23-man squad for next Wednesday's Group Nine showdown.

Scottish clubs have already suffered in Europe this term after playing sides who are well into their domestic seasons.

The same applies to Norway, who are bottom of the group, and Burley admitted Scotland would be unable to match their opponents' sharpness.

"Well, you can't," he said.

"I don't think fitness is a problem because the players have been back five or six weeks.

"We'll be keeping it nice and sharp and bright and it'll be down to attitude as well of course."

On the injury front, the absence of goalkeeper Craig Gordon has provided Burley with the biggest headache.

The Sunderland star has struggled to regain full fitness following knee surgery at the start of May and Burley admitted it would have taken "a miracle" for the 26-year-old to have been recovered in time.

With long-time understudy Allan McGregor having been banned for life from representing his country, Burley has been left with a trio of keepers boasting only five caps between them.

The Scotland boss admitted Gordon's absence was "a huge loss" but called on Neil Alexander, David Marshall and the uncapped Jamie Langford to stake a claim to replace him during training in the next week.

"We've brought three goalkeepers who are desperate to play," said Burnley, whose side sit on seven points, four clear of Norway.

"There's no doubt Craig will be a loss, but it will give somebody else an opportunity."

Despite his bullishness, it is telling Burley tried to give Gordon as long as possible to prove his fitness.

Also missing are Stephen McManus, Gary Naysmith, Kirk Broadfoot, Barry Robson, James Morrison and Chris Iwelumo.

That led to a a first call-up for three years for Burnley captain Steven Caldwell, who could partner brother Gary at the heart of the defence.

Preston full-back Callum Davidson was also recalled, as was Celtic winger Shaun Maloney, while there was a surprise call for once-capped Rangers striker Steven Naismith.

Talismanic forward James McFadden is back in the fold for the first time since November.

But there is no place for veteran Rangers defender David Weir, whose distinguished international career looks to be at an end.

 

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'POINTLESS' FRIENDLIES ANNOY O'NEILL

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has branded England's friendly with Holland only three days before the start of the new Premier League season "pointless".

O'Neill admits the series of Under-21 and full internationals which will be staged next week will disrupt preparations for the opening game with Wigan at Villa Park on August 15.

The Villa boss has already been without James Milner, Craig Gardner and Gabriel Agbonlahor for most of his pre-season programme after their involvement with England in the European Under-21 Championships.

O'Neill said: "It is not just the England international. You've also got World Cup games being played three days before the season starts.

"It seems really strange and pointless to be playing those sort of games so near to the start of a season.

"We will have loads and loads of people away. We have got full internationals, Under-21s and Under-20s. We might as will invent an Under-22 and Under-24 competition.

"In a week where we will be trying to prepare for the start of the season, we will not see a lot of our players until Friday morning before the Wigan game.

"I might as well say all international games three days before the start of the season are pointless. It doesn't make a great deal of sense."

O'Neill is continuing to step up his bid to bring in new players before the start of the new campaign with defence his main priority.

 

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CALDWELL AIMING TO KEEP IT IN FAMILY

Steven Caldwell is dreaming of partnering younger brother Gary at the heart of Scotland's defence as he bids for his first cap in more than three years.

Burnley captain Caldwell was named in George Burley's 23-man squad for next Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Scotland boss Burley singled out the 28-year-old for special praise after the defender led the Clarets into the top flight of English football for the first time since 1976.

With Celtic star Gary's usual defensive partner Stephen McManus out injured, there now appears every chance of an all-Caldwell centre-back pairing in Oslo next week.

The duo have started together for Scotland once before.

That was in a World Cup qualifier in Moldova almost five years ago, in a match which saw Gary play right-back.

"We've both been fortunate enough to play with each other before so it would be tremendous to play alongside him," said Steven, who earned the last of his nine caps in March 2006.

"We've never actually played centre-back together.

"I think he played right-back the game that we played together in the qualifier in Moldova so it would be an unbelievable honour and something I look forward to.

"I'm pretty selfish - we all are in football - and I just want to be on the park."

Caldwell revealed he had learnt of his recall days before the squad was announced.

"I knew before everybody else," he said after being preferred to Rangers veteran David Weir, whose distinguished international career appears to be over.

"The gaffer had a call from George Burley and he told him that he was going to be putting me in."

Caldwell was still a Sunderland player when he was last capped and a drop out of the Premier League coincided with the loss of his international place.

"It's felt like a long time," Caldwell said.

"Basically, since I came to Burnley, I was out of the squad.

"I think I was maybe in one squad when I first signed and I've been out since.

"But that's one of things that sometimes happens and you just keep working away and hope that one day you can get back in there."

He added: "It's been a long time but I'm relishing the prospect of maybe representing my country again."

Caldwell, who joined Burnley in January 2007, has no intention of letting his standards slip after finally getting back in the international fold.

"I enjoyed last season and I was playing regularly in a successful team," he told his club's official website, www.burnleyfootballclub.com.

"Hopefully, I can push on and have another great season this year.

"It's something that I'd hoped would come but I've said a lot of times I wasn't going to dwell on it or worry about it too much.

"I knew that eventually if I was to play well then a chance would come along and I'd get back in there."

 

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HUTTON: SCOTS BACK ON TRACK

Scotland's players have finally put the 'Boozegate' saga to bed, according to full-back Alan Hutton.

Hutton revealed manager George Burley had spoken to his squad, as planned, about their conduct ahead of Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Tottenham star Hutton was reportedly one of a number of players who stayed up drinking at the team hotel following March's Group Nine defeat in Holland.

He turned in long before team-mates Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor, whose early-hours binge sparked a chain of events that eventually led to them being banned from representing their country ever again.

Hutton said: "The manager has had a conversation with us before training.

"All the stuff that went on was not great and not good for anybody involved with Scotland but we have to focus on the game at hand. We have not got to a finals in 11 years and to get there would be a massive achievement.

"Hopefully we are all pulling in the same direction to get there.

"There were always ground rules but obviously what happened was a bit out of line. We have gone over it. We are all professionals and we all know how we should conduct ourselves. The manager has gone over it and everyone is moving in the same direction."

Hutton, 24, has endured something of an injury nightmare since his £9million move to Spurs from Rangers last year but he believes he is finally over his troubles.

He said: "It's like starting afresh again. We've had nine pre-season games, so sharpness is not a problem for me now and I am fit and looking forward to getting on with the games."

Burley insists failure to beat Norway on Wednesday would not spell the end of Scotland's qualifying hopes, claiming two wins from any of their final three matches would be sufficient.

Hutton is not so sure, adding: "Personally, I think we need to win. Getting a point is obviously better than losing but I think we have to win this and the next game against Macedonia.

"Then anything we get from Holland is a bonus. It would be a big ask to go into the Holland game having to win."

 

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LOW PLAYS SAFE WITH SQUAD

Germany coach Joachim Low has decided to stick with familiar names in his 20-man squad to face Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier on August 12.

Since most of Europe's leagues, including the Bundesliga, have yet to commence, Low has been unable to take a close look at other candidates for his squad, which is why he has stuck to what he knows.

"It is not an easy situation having to name a squad for such an important World Cup qualifier before the first round of Bundesliga matches," he said.

"The performances of the players can understandably vary a lot during pre-season and so it is hard to gauge where they currently at.

"This is why we have decided to mainly choose players who we know well.

"I am convinced that we have chosen the kind of player we need to be successful in Baku."

Low has named only two goalkeepers in his squad, leaving Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler and Schalke's Manuel Neuer out.

Robert Enke and Tim Wiese therefore appear to have stolen a march on the highly-rated rookies in the race for the number one jersey at next year's World Cup, but Low insists all four are still in the hunt.

"Neuer and Adler are undoubtedly very talented goalkeepers," he said.

"But Robert Enke has played three of the last five friendlies and recently impressed against China while Tim Wiese performed at a constantly high level during the second half of last season.

"Therefore, they both enjoy our full faith for the Azerbaijan game, but that is in no way a definite decision for the upcoming games.

"We have four excellent goalkeepers at our disposal and there could be changes for our internationals against South Africa and Azerbaijan in September."

Captain Michael Ballack has been recalled to the squad, as have the Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen players who all missed the tour of Asia due to their DFB-Pokal commitments.

Christian Gentner and Cacau, who both made their debuts in the Far East, have also been named once again.

Squad: Robert Enke (Hannover), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen); Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcel Schafer (Wolfsburg), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke); Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Christian Gentner (Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger and Sami Khedira (Both Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen and Piotr Trochowski (Both Hamburg), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich); Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose (Both Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).

 

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CROUCH RELISHING COMPETITION

Peter Crouch admits he has taken a gamble with his England career by moving from Portsmouth to Tottenham.

The 28-year-old was an automatic choice at Fratton Park but, as Darren Bent found, there is now stiff competition for the striking places at Spurs in the shape of Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko.

"Of course it's a gamble, but what can you do?" said Crouch today as he sat alongside Harry Redknapp, the man who will be managing him for a third time.

"I am ambitious, I want to improve myself and I want to be part of a team that I think can achieve things.

"It's going to be difficult to break into the top four, but if anyone has the potential, this club does. Harry has a great deal of belief in me and I hope I can repay him."

Asked if it worried him that England boss Fabio Capello might not look kindly on him being in and out of the Tottenham side, Crouch said: "No. I have confidence in my own ability and that, when given the opportunities, I will take them.

"Although I could have gone somewhere and been first choice regardless of how you are playing, to keep you on your toes and improve you as a player you have to have competition and I am going to work hard and earn the shirt as much as anyone else.

"I've been in and out of the England side but when I've played I've always felt I've done well and scored goals (16 of them in 34 appearances).

"I'm confident that I'll be playing every week and doing all I can to make sure I'm on that plane to South Africa (for the World Cup).

"If you want to play for England and a big club like Tottenham, you've got to make sure you're scoring goals and playing well. I've been under that pressure however long my career has been going.

"I impose most pressure on myself. I have high expectations and I've got to make sure I do the business."

The 6ft 7in striker certainly has a fan in Redknapp.

"I think if you get the right service in he's unplayable," said the 62-year-old. "Sometimes you have to learn people how to play with Peter - he does different things.

"But he must be the easiest player in the world to play with. Drop the ball up to Peter on his chest - that must be the simplest thing.

"What an outlet. It's a dream.

"I was very surprised I got him from Liverpool to Portsmouth. I didn't think they'd let him go - he did great there and scored some terrific things.

"He then did a terrific job at Portsmouth. His goals were instrumental in keeping them up. Give him the right quality balls, you can't play against him really."

Crouch stopped short of calling Redknapp a father figure, though. "I've got a dad, to be honest," he replied.

But when he was asked for the difference from other managers, Redknapp interjected with the revealing comment: "I always pick him!"

And the White Hart Lane boss added: "There's nothing to stop me playing three of them. It gives me good options. I have my best XI in mind and I know how I want to go.

"I've given myself a nice problem. I wanted Peter because of what he gives you - he holds the ball up and he scores goals."

Redknapp, hopeful Spurs can improve on their eighth place last year, described as "good business" buying Crouch for "under £10million" and selling Bent to Sunderland for a fee that could rise to £16million.

Crouch actually began his career with Tottenham more than a decade ago before moving on to Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Southampton, Liverpool and then back to Portsmouth.

He added: "I certainly hope this is my last club. I'd like to stay as long as possible and see my career out."

While Redknapp has decisions to make on who to leave out up front, he has serious injury worries in central defence, with Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson almost certain to miss the start of the season and Ledley King doubtful.

Even if the expected £8million signing of Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong goes through, he is suspended for the first two games because of his sending-off against Fulham at the end of last season.

 

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CAPELLO: WILSHERE A CONTENDER

Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere could go to the World Cup finals in South Africa next year, according to England coach Fabio Capello.

The Italian saw Wilshere, who has only made one substitute appearance in the Premier League, star in the pre-season Emirates Cup tournament, scoring twice against Rangers.

And Capello said of the 17-year-old: "He surprised me. Really. I saw him last year two times because he played in the Carling Cup and he has improved a lot now.

"He plays without fear, with confidence. And the other players passed the ball always to him. This is not normal to be so young and so good."

Sven-Goran Eriksson took another Arsenal youngster, Theo Walcott, to the World Cup finals in 2006 before he had played in the Premier League but Capello stressed Wilshere must break into the first team if he is to earn a place in the squad.

He continued: "We have time before we have to decide if he will go to South Africa. It depends a lot on (Gunners boss) Arsene Wenger, if he will play him."

 

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NOT RETURN FOR KURANYI - LOW

Germany coach Joachim Low has again ruled out a recall for Kevin Kuranyi despite the likelihood of losing Miroslav Klose to injury.

Klose may have to pull out of the squad to meet Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier next Wednesday due to the injury which forced him to miss Bayern Munich's 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The 31-year-old will undergo tests with the German Football Association's medical department on Sunday night, but it seems likely he will have to follow Lukas Podolski in withdrawing from the squad, leaving Low with just two strikers left in Mario Gomez and Cacau.

Kuranyi scored twice as Schalke defeated Nurnberg 2-1 on Saturday, but Low still has no intention of going back on his decision never to pick the striker again.

"I have told him that there will simply be no return for him while I am in charge," Low told ARD television.

"This decision still stands today."

Kuranyi was told his international career was over when, having not been named in the matchday squad, he walked out at half-time in Germany's friendly against Russia last October.

Low revealed he would call up Stefan Kiessling of Bayer Leverkusen should Klose fail to prove his fitness.

 

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CAPELLO ISSUES BECKS WARNING

Fabio Capello has warned David Beckham he needs to be playing in a top European league in the second half of the season if he is to stand any chance of making England's World Cup squad.

The 34-year-old is back in the reckoning on the international arena following a successful loan stint at AC Milan last term.

Beckham is currently back at parent club LA Galaxy but Capello has made no secret of the fact he holds little regard for the standard of MLS football.

A move back to the San Siro has been mooted at the conclusion of the MLS campaign, with Beckham having set his heart on returning to Europe once his commitments in America have been met.

Capello, who brought Beckham back into the fold after a spell in the international wilderness, has issued a stark warning for the one-time England skipper.

"Beckham knows well that if he doesn't return to a big European championship in December he'll have no chance for the World Cup," Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport.

 

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KLOSE FITNESS BOOST FOR GERMANY

Germany striker Miroslav Klose has been declared fit for the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old was forced to miss Bayern Munich's opening Bundesliga fixture against Hoffenheim on Saturday due to a swollen ankle.

But he was put through his paces in Frankfurt on Sunday night and showed no adverse effects on Monday morning, enabling him to join the 19-man squad for the clash in Baku.

Germany coach Joachim Low therefore decided against calling up Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling to provide extra cover following Lukas Podolski's withdrawal from the squad at the weekend.

He has Klose, Mario Gomez and Cacau available to lead his attack in Wednesday's qualifier, in which a victory would see Germany open up a four-point advantage over Russia at the top of Group Four.

Captain Michael Ballack was also on board, despite missing his flight over to Germany.

The Chelsea midfielder was caught up in traffic on his way from Wembley Stadium to the airport following his team's Community Shield victory over Manchester United, and was forced to return home before taking the first available flight out of London for Frankfurt this morning.

He arrived in time to link up with the squad for their four-and-a-half hour flight to Azerbaijan.

 

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NO ENVY FROM ROONEY

Wayne Rooney is not interested in casting envious glances at Real Madrid or Manchester City with the England forward confident Manchester United already have the quality at their disposal to land the major prizes.

The entire football world has been staggered at the enormous amounts of money shelled out by the men controlling the purse strings at the Bernabeu and Eastlands.

It seems like every few days another expensive purchase is being agreed, with Real smashing the world transfer record twice in a single week to land Kaka and then Cristiano Ronaldo.

City have profited at United's expense too by acquiring Carlos Tevez, while Matthew Upson is said to be top of the list of alternatives should Joleon Lescott's capture from Everton prove elusive.

Rooney is interested to see how it works out for the big-spending pair. But he is not jealous, or worried about what it means for United.

"There is no element of jealousy at the money City and Real Madrid have been spending," he said.

"If our manager felt he needed to spend he would.

"But I don't believe we need too many changes. We have won the league for the last three seasons and reached the Champions League final twice in a row, so why would we need five or six players?

"I think the manager has probably got it right."

Sir Alex Ferguson would almost certainly have bought another experienced striker if the summer prices had not been so prohibitive.

An offer was made to Lyon for Karim Benzema, only for Ferguson to pull out when the price went over £30million, leaving the French international to join the Real Madrid throng.

There is interest in Atletico Madrid's young Argentina forward Sergei Aguero, only for United to be faced with a £50million fee which they are not willing to pay.

So, for all the promise of Federico Macheda, the Red Devils do appear to be a striker short which, after losing a player who has contributed an average goal tally in excess of 30 a year for the last three seasons, raises inevitable questions, which Rooney is content will be answered.

"Cristiano is the best player in the world," he said.

"If you lose him of course there are going to be questions asked.

"But we have brought Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia in and they have settled in fairly quickly so it is on us to build on that.

"We might need to play a little bit of a different style to try and keep winning games and trying to win trophies but I am confident we will manage it."

There is nothing revolutionary about the new style, merely a return to a couple of orthodox wide players, with one striker dropping behind another.

In theory then, a return to the role Rooney likes best, the one where he has proved so effective for England.

Except the same thing was promised by Ferguson 12 months ago and it did not quite materialise as Ronaldo's increasing reluctance to do any defending left a gap on the wing Rooney was eventually called upon to fill.

"The manager has said I will play a more central role and I have said quite often that it is my preferred position," he smiled.

"I am not sure whether it will happen, whatever the manager says goes. But I was delighted to play there against Chelsea yesterday and I hope to stay there for most of the season.

"Put it this way, if I keep scoring goals from this position it will justify why I have been selected there and then I don't see any reason why he would play me out wide."

Rooney has certainly made a good start judging by his performance against Chelsea in the Community Shield yesterday.

And, for all the furore that surrounds Owen, Dimitar Berbatov would appear to be the man most likely to partner him.

So often a peripheral figure last term, United's £30.75million record signing seems to have a renewed vigour ahead of his second season at Old Trafford.

Rooney can sense it, which is why he is expecting big things of the Bulgarian.

"You can see in training and games during pre-season Dimitar has looked sharper," he said.

"He looks like he is more determined.

"He is tracking back with the full-backs in pre-season and is definitely working harder and trying to impress.

"He is a brilliant player. He has so much quality he has got and we all want him to show it."

 

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LAMPS WILLING TO CHANGE ENGLAND ROLE

Frank Lampard insists it is no sacrifice to temper his attacking instincts in the England World Cup cause.

After years of Steven Gerrard being shunted around to solve the perennial issue of getting the most out of England's two most influential midfielders, Fabio Capello has decided the correct solution is to move both.

With more emphasis being placed around Wayne Rooney, Gerrard has been occupying a wider role on the left, while Lampard has been a deployed as a glorified holding midfielder alongside Gareth Barry.

The role is not totally restrictive, as shown by the three goals Lampard has snaffled in his last four outings for the Three Lions, but he does accept he must rein in his natural instinct to go forward.

However, as England look to maintain their healthy progression by overcoming Holland in a friendly in Amsterdam on Wednesday, Lampard claimed altering his own game is not a problem as long as his team-mates feel the benefit.

"I would not call it a sacrifice," he said.

"It is a different role and not one completely compatible to where my instincts are.

"There are times when I could go forward, which is what I would do naturally, but I hold.

"However, one of the things the manager has stressed to us over the last 18 months is that we are a group and a team.

"The feeling of being an individual has been taken away, which needed to happen.

"It is not about Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard, or whoever may be playing up front. Everybody is performing together. That has been our strength over the qualifying campaign."

Although a friendly at this time of year can throw up some strange results, including a 4-1 battering by Denmark four years ago, Capello should get a decent guide as to the progress his team still have to make as they tackle the only European side to have already booked their place in South Africa.

In February, England were comprehensively outplayed by Spain in Seville, providing Capello and his players with a reality check Lampard felt was necessary, even if he is convinced the Euro 2008 winners could be beaten should they have to be faced again.

"The improvement is there and I am confident about what lies ahead," he said.

"People have to remember when we played Spain that night we had a few players out.

"If we played them in a tournament I am sure we would produce a better performance than we did that night and could give them a good run for their money.

"It is hard to gauge exactly where we are. The main thing is to improve as a group every time we get together and try to be in the best possible condition for next summer."

With only David James and Peter Crouch missing from the regular members of Capello's recent squads, the Italian seems to have settled on the group of players that will carry England's hopes on their shoulders next summer.

Not that Lampard feels the door is completely closed on anyone, which is good news for Michael Owen in particular.

"It is nice to have a consistent squad. It makes it very comfortable to come here and see the same faces and work with the same people.

"But the manager has obviously shown he will pick players on form and the fitness, regardless of the name and I am sure if he sees fit to bring other people in or change it around he will."

Lampard sat out today's training session after taking a minor bang on the knee as he made a goalscoring contribution to Chelsea's Community Shield win over Manchester United on Sunday.

Providing he recovers, the 30-year-old will take his place in a team attempting to reach peak form in time for next month's qualifier against Croatia at Wembley, when victory will secure a World Cup berth with two matches to spare.

"That would be ideal and I am very confident we can do it," he said.

"We know there are three games to go and but we intend to play Croatia as though it was our last and we needed a win to go through.

"To qualify early would give us all a real confidence boost.

"We would know where we were going and give us the incentive to keep on improving."

 

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SMITH: FERGUSON OUTBURST IS UNTIMELY

Gordon Smith has accused Barry Ferguson of deliberately trying to disrupt Scotland's preparations for Wednesday night's crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Former national team captain Ferguson launched a stinging attack on the Scottish Football Association over their handling of the 'Boozegate' affair in an interview published in Monday's Evening Times.

SFA chief executive Smith insisted he had yet to read the article in which Ferguson brands the organisation a "joke" but was more than suspicious about the timing of it.

"The timing's obviously planned to try to be negative regarding something to do with the team," said Smith, speaking at Glasgow Airport as the Scotland squad arrived for their flight to Oslo.

"If Barry Ferguson wants to make comments, that's entirely up to him.

"Regardless of what he said, we have no response to it because we're just concentrating on an important game."

Ferguson and Allan McGregor were banned from representing Scotland ever again for their behaviour while on international duty against Holland and Iceland last season.

The pair indulged in an early-hours drinking session at the team hotel in the wake of March's World Cup qualifying defeat in Amsterdam.

They then reacted to being dropped to the bench against Iceland days later by flicking V-signs at photographers.

Smith added: "All of a sudden, after four months, to speak this week is a major aspect of it."

Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher also claimed he had not read the article but was just as critical of its timing.

"It's not good timing when it comes two days before one of the most important matches Scotland will ever play," he said.

"I'm sure the squad will just be focused on getting the result out there so we'll leave it at that."

If the article was designed as a distraction, Butcher was confident it will fail.

He added: "There's some young players out there, some exciting young players as well as older players as well. It's a very good blend.

"It's a squad that's evolving, it's a squad that's going forward and hopefully going forward well in Oslo."

Midfielder Ferguson, who left Rangers for Birmingham this summer, said in the interview: "The thing that rankles with me now is the way the SFA handled the entire situation - for me it was a joke.

"I had played for Scotland 45 times, I had captained my country for years - and they sent a fax to Murray Park saying that I would never play for my country again. It was just the same statement they put out, that was it!

"That just astonished me. The machine starts to ring, and in comes a fax from Hampden for my attention telling me that I would no longer be picked, and neither would Allan.

"The people in the room just looked at each other in total disbelief - is that how something like that should be handled?

"No-one has ever spoken to me from the Scotland set-up. Not the manager, the chief executive, a PR guy, anyone. I was driving back into Murray Park after being sent home for a few hours and I heard on the radio that the SFA were going to ban me for life.

"I was in such a whirl that I wasn't taking anything in - then a fax arrives and that was it over... no phone call, no anything. That, for me, sums the SFA up. They don't know how to handle anything properly."

It's understood the SFA dispute Ferguson's version of events, claiming there had been phone calls with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain before the statement was released.

Despite his criticisms, Ferguson is contrite about the behaviour which led to his ban.

He said: "I was totally in the wrong with what happened at the hotel. I would never sit for a second and try to dress that up in any way or try to make a case for what went on that night with the drinking.

"If I could go back and change things, I would - of course I would. I should have gone to bed, and I should never have made the V-signs - when I see the pictures of that I feel so stupid. I looked like a daft idiot and I should have known better. But it was an error, a bad call.

"I let myself down, my family down, my country down and I let Walter Smith, Rangers and the supporters down. That's something I'll need to live with and it does still hurt me.

"But I made a mistake and people do that - I am a human being, not a robot and I made a costly mistake."