History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

LOFFREDA PLEADS FOR MORE TIME AT TIGERS

Marcelo Loffreda has urged the Leicester Tigers board to consider his team’s progress over the past few months before deciding whether to sack him.

The Head Coach, who took Argentina to last year’s World Cup semi-final, has struggled in his first season at Welford Road, but his team scraped into today's final.

But after being outplayed in the first half they went down 26-16 to London Wasps – with rumours circulating that the result of this final would determine his future.

But Loffreda insisted the future could be bright – although he acknowledged it is not his decision.

He said: "I am not happy now - I am very sad. It really hurts to lose the game. But we have to look forward. I think we can do many good things in the future.

"During the months and the games that I have been with the team, I think we have improved.

“I was very happy where things were going. It was tough and we were inconsistent in the beginning, but we began to find our way.

"Leicester have the talent and the players to be great.

"I really don't know if I will be Leicester coach next season. I would love to stay here but I am not the one who has to make that decision."

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Leicester Tigers, Marcelo Loffreda, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:04 pm | Permalink | Comments

CORRY ANNOYED AT LETTING WASPS DOMINATE

Leicester Tigers captain Martin Corry conceded that his team were always going to find it hard to come back from 23-6 at the interval, as London Wasps captured their fourth Guinness Premiership title in the past six seasons.

The 34-year-old former England captain dished out a stern half-time team talk, and his troops responded through tries from winger Tom Varndell and scrum-half Harry Ellis to pull back the score to 23-16. But, as fly-half Andy Goode fluffed 10 kickable points, it proved too little too late.

Corry said: “We left ourselves too much to do. Wasps are a side with a much talked about defence and it was always going to make it tough when you have to chase a lead. Everything we said we shouldn't do, we probably did in the first-half.

“We always felt even when went behind that if we can hit our game, and when we hit our game we're a very difficult side to beat. Today summed up the whole season – our problem is that when we don't hit our game we look quite ordinary and when we do we look very dangerous.

“We've got the Guinness Premiership final and we've lost. But we'll show the Leicester spirit and come back better and stronger next season.”

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Leicester Tigers, Marcelo Loffreda, Martin Corry, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:01 pm | Permalink | Comments

DALLAGLIO BOWS OUT ON A WINNING NOTE

Lawrence Dallaglio added one final item of silverware to his glittering 18-year career as he led his beloved London Wasps to a 26–16 victory over old enemy and reigning champions Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership grand final on the hallowed turf of Twickenham.

After a pulsating game, in which momentum swung both ways, the 35-year-old backrow warrior waved a tearful farewell to 81,600 spectators – a world record for club rugby – and collected his sixteenth winners’ medal.

Although he named this final win a career highlight, the No8 wanted to steer attention away from him. “It has been a very special day and I have been very fortunate to have many special days in my career," he said. "But I was always wary that today was about Wasps and playing a game of rugby and a mighty opponent like Leicester and I didn't want to detract from that."

On a stage fitting for one of the finest rugby players in world history to bow out, the two most dominant sides in the English game in the past decade were pitted against each other.

Dallaglio’s team had been as low as tenth in the table, but after losing only twice since October, they looked the team to beat going into the play-offs. And it was the London club who took the early initiative.

They were 10-3 up just after 10 minutes, thanks to flanker Tom Rees’ converted score and a penalty after six minutes by full-back Mark Van Gisbergen. Riki Flutey, more used to playing inside centre, was handed the task of deputising for injured wunderkind Danny Cipriani at fly-half.

The Maori 28-year-old, recently named player of the season by his fellow professionals, assisted by a dominating front eight, soon began to make his touches count. Led by Dallaglio and his superb young backrow colleagues James Haskell and Rees, Wasps tackled, foraged and drove like men possessed.

Before the interval Leicester, skippered by Martin Corry at blindside flanker, became starved of ball and their frustrations began to become costly in the form of Wasps penalties. Three out of three from Van Gisbergen, and a well worked converted try by winger Josh Lewsey took the score to 23-6 at the break.

In the second half Tigers rolled up their sleeves, knowing that the next score was crucial. Their pack – as Dallaglio’s had done in the first half – began to rule the park and Wasps finally buckled under the pressure after 56 minutes. Andy Goode’s cross-field kick was tapped back by Geordan Murphy and, after Lewsey fumbled, touched down by the Premiership’s leading try scorer Tom Varndell.

Fly-half Goode, who laced two penalties in the first half, then missed his first kick of the afternoon with the conversion attempt. Six minutes later scrum-half Harry Ellis got in on the action with a try having broken blind from a scrum to bring the score back to 23-16 and set up an edge-of-the-seat final 15 minutes.

But Goode, who had drop-kicked Tigers into the final, failed again to convert and miscued two further penalties. His missed 10 points turned out to be crucial in what could well be Argentine coach Marcelo Loffreda’s final game.

In response, Van Gisbergen kicked a penalty with eight minutes remaining and Wasps held on for their fourth Premiership title in six years. An emotional Dallaglio, withdrawn to a standing ovation with 13 minutes left on the clock, was quick to praise his team-mates.

The former England captain, who earned 85 international caps and was the only player to feature in every minute of the 2003 World Cup success, said: “I feel this is one of Wasps' greatest achievements and for me it is the only way to finish.

“We were tenth in the table around Christmas time and it's just been a monumental effort by everyone and it's a huge testament to the squad.

“Obviously, when it's your last game, there's a lot of hype which is inevitable. But today wasn't about me, it was a fantastic achievement and it was a fantastic day. I'm very proud.”

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Lawrence Dallaglio, Leicester Tigers, Marcelo Loffreda, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:51 pm | Permalink | Comments

STOCKPORT MAKE IT FIFTH TIME LUCKY TO GAIN PROMOTION TO LEAGUE ONE

Anthony Pilkington and Liam Dickinson were Stockport County’s heroes as their team defeated north-west rivals Rochdale 3-2 at Wembley to gain promotion to League One. It was the first time in five attempts that the Cheshire-based club had succeeded on the hallowed turf in north-west London.

After an absence of three years Country now return to the third tier while Rochdale remain in League Two, where they have been for 34 successive seasons – longer than any other club. Rochdale have enjoyed promotion only once in their history – in 1969, the same year current manager, former Blackburn Rovers defender, Keith Hill was born.

In their first trip to Wembley, and under the gaze of a crowd of 36,000, they could not halt that unwanted record, despite opening the scoring through Rory McArdle after 24 minutes. Stockport had the better of the early exchanges, but the 21-year-old defender nodded in Kallum Higginbotham’s corner past Conrad Logan at the front post.

Ten minutes later Stockport levelled through Nathan Stanton’s own goal. From a short corner Tommy Rowe swung over a teasing cross from the right, and the defender could only deflect the ball past his own ‘keeper.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Jim Gannon’s team, who defeated Rochdale both times in the regular season, to go into the lead, through the impressive Pilkington.

Michael Rose fizzed in a low cross which was missed by the Rochdale back line and skilfully steered under the bar by the 19-year-old forward.

Twenty-three minutes before the final whistle Liam Dickinson showed good strength to swivel and score his 21st goal of the season to make it 3-1 to Gannon’s side.

Adam Rundle pulled one back for Rochdale to set up a tense final 13 minutes, but Stockport held on. There may only be 20 miles between the two clubs, but now a league separates them.

Labels: Jim Gannon, League One, League Two, play-offs, Rochdale, Stockport County

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

DEMPSEY LOOKING FORWARD TO WEMBLEY TEST

Clint Dempsey cannot wait to step out on to the hallowed turf at Wembley for the first time on Wednesday and is hoping to fire past England once again.

The Fulham forward’s national team, America, take on Fabio Capello’s side in the first of three high-profile friendlies before their World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off next month.

The 25-year-old, current US player of the year, has fond memories of playing England, having netted his first international goal against them in 2005.

“I scored my first goal for America in the 2-1 friendly defeat in Chicago and I remember it well,” said 38-cap Dempsey. “It was a set-piece crossed to [former Fulham defender] Carlos [Bocanegra] who shot the ball on the goal frame.

“The ‘keeper [David James] made a good save and I was in the right place at the right time – the ball came right to me and I just tried to put it back in. I managed to squeeze it in the near post and it was a great feeling.

“I am really looking forward to playing at Wembley – I have never played there before and would love to score.

“There is a history at Wembley and I’m it’s so exciting for all the players. Guys I have talked to about it say it has an amazing atmosphere.”

After the England game America, who have won four out of their last five matches, take on Spain and Argentina before playing Barbados on June 15 on their first stop on the road to South Africa 2010.

Dempsey continued: “With three big games against England, Spain and Argentina we have an opportunity to test ourselves and work out how best to be successful when we go to the Caribbean.

“It is great to play against the best teams out there – as a player that is what you want. You can better yourself, as both a player and a team, playing against these sort of teams and we are all looking forward to it.

“It’s good to play against guys that I play against week in, week out, in the Premier League – one of the best leagues in the world. There are some of the best players in the world.”

Dempsey backed forward Landon Donavan to cause England most problems. The LA Galaxy star, and team-mate of David Beckham’s, is set to make his 100th appearance for his county against England.

And Dempsey added of the 26-year-old: “To be able to reach 100 caps at such a young age is awesome and a testament to his talent. It’s great for Landon and I am sure he will show his ability against England."

Labels: America, Clint Dempsey, Dutch football, England, Fulham, Wembley

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:03 pm | Permalink | Comments

MUNSTER EDGE OUT TOULOUSE TO CLINCH SECOND HEINEKEN CUP TITLE

Ronan O’Gara earned Munster their second Heineken Cup trophy, after his 11 kicked points edged out three-time winners Toulouse 16–13 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. It was their second success in three years, strengthening their stranglehold on European rugby.

The French team, who won the first European Cup 12 years ago and last lifted it in 2005, opened the scoring through fly-half Jean-Baptiste Élissalde. The diminutive No10 missed a penalty chance after five minutes but made amends immediately by stroking over a drop-kick four minutes later.

In a bruising and tight first 40 minutes, with both defences neutralizing any attacking threat, it took Munster until 10 minutes before the break to engineer their first meaningful scoring opportunity. All Black winger Doug Howlett managed to pierce the Toulouse wall with a slinking run. After being held up short, No8 Dennis Leamy reached over to touch down, though referee Nigel Owens adjudged the Irish backrower to have lost control of the ball.

A defensive five metre scrum was awarded and Munster twisted their French opponents so much that they earned the following scrum. And Toulouse buckled under the pressure as the Munster forwards bludgeoning their defence, with Leamy the man to cross the white wash – it was his tenth Heineken Cup try in his 30th appearance.

O’Gara converted before adding another three points after Toulouse captain Fabien Pelous was penalised. Élissalde hit back with a penalty to take the score to 10-6 at the interval.

Pelous again let his side down by kicking out at a Munster player 12 minutes into the second half – he was sin-binned for 10 minutes and O’Gara slotted the penalty. Though their imposing second-row skipper was off the field, Toulouse, through the genius of their mercurial full-back Cedric Heymans, scored a superb converted try to bring them level with 25 minutes remaining.

Heymans, sensing that his team needed something out of the ordinary, threw a line out to himself in his own half, before chipping forward. He collected his own kick before lacing on again. Charging for the line Toulouse centre Yannick Jauzion fly-hacked on before winger Yves Donguy dropped on the ball to score.

However Pelous, having served his 10 minutes on the sidelines, conceded yet another penalty with 15 minutes left. Ireland’s No10 O’Gara knocked over his third three-pointer in a perfect kicking game and his team held on for an emotional victory.

Labels: Heineken Cup, Munster, Ronan O'Gara, Toulouse

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:11 pm | Permalink | Comments

DALLAGLIO: PLAY-OFFS MUST BE CONTINUED

The Guinness Premiership must persevere with the play-off system if England are to continue producing stars – that is the view of World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio. If change happens then it would leave clubs no choice but to flood the league with foreigners, much like the football Premier League, Dallaglio warns.
The 35-year-old backrower, whose Wasps team contest the play-off final with Leicester, thinks that the current clamour for a change in system is unfair and would be detrimental.

Wasps were in tenth in the league a few months ago, while a number of internationals were not available for selection for the club after representing their countries in both the World Cup and the Six Nations. But they have sneaked into the final after an impressive run – with all internationals back playing domestic rugby – saw them motor up the table.

And if things were to change, whereby the team finishing first would be crowned champions, Dallaglio warned that Wasps would have to adapt their recruitment policy and it would tempt clubs to sign more foreigners rather than nurture young British talent.

He said: “Suddenly everyone is asking: ‘Is there a need for the Premiership to play-offs’ and moaning that we should have a first past the post system?

“The reality is that if you're going to have 12 weeks next season when you have international rugby and such a huge fixture clash, then the play-off system is the only way forward. You can't continue to develop home grown players with a first past the post system under the current structure of the season.

“At Wasps, like many clubs, we endorse and promote as many English players as possible. But there's no doubt that if it was a first past the post system under the current number of internationals we'd have to change our recruitment policy completely.”

Dallaglio, who retires after next Saturday’s final, continued: “People who argue against the play-off system have to temper club rugby with the future health of the England team. There is no argument in my opinion. The play-offs must stay or else clubs will start looking overseas for their players. We don't want to go down the route of football where the balance is 70 per cent overseas players when in rugby it's 30 per cent. That must continue.”

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:02 pm | Permalink | Comments

DALLGLIO TO COACH AFTER HE RETIRES

Lawrence Dallaglio has said that after he retires from professional rugby he wants to ‘coach at the highest level’ and help his club, London Wasps, to ‘got to a higher level, both on and off the pitch’. The huge backrow forward, 35, is scheduled to bow out in next Saturday’s Guinness Premiership final against Leicester Tigers.

And Dallaglio, who won 85 caps for England, admits that he wants to support Wasps – his only professional club – though he may not coach immediately, as there may not be room! But he believes that if the club are to truly grow then a new Stadium, not Adams Park, which Wasps share with Wycombe Wanderers, is needed.

He said: “I've taken a role as associate director at the club. I want to look back at Wasps and be proud of what they are in future. I want them to be a club that will always provide internationals and win trophies. It would be lovely for me to get involved in the coaching side of things but looking at the quality of coaches here there's not a lot I can offer in the short term. We have great coaches and I'm not going to start moving them around.

“In the future I'd like to coach at the highest level but that's something you have to learn, you have to work at and it's not something I'd expect to walk into. I'll continue to learn and do the coaching qualifications I need to do but in the meantime there are other opportunities I'd like to pursue off the pitch.”

On matters away from the pitch, Dallaglio continued: “We need to raise the revenue and profile of this club to make sure we can compete off the field as well on it. On the field we've been doing a great job and we want to continue attracting the very best players to come here. We want to pay them what we feel they deserve.

“The biggest challenge for us is to find a new stadium and to fill that stadium. There are some big challenges facing us and that's where I feel I can add value to the club. We need to be in control of our own destiny and at the moment that's not the case.

“Any club that owns their own stadium and has the ability to create revenue through commercial means in terms of sponsorship and hospitality has an advantage. We need to up the ante in that respect. That's what we're determined to do. That's the way I see my new challenge and I'll approach that with the same commitment I've shown for the last 18 years on the pitch.”

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Lawrence Dallaglio, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:59 pm | Permalink | Comments

US COACH LOOKING FORWARD TO ‘SPECIAL’ WEMBLEY TEST

Bob Bradley, coach of the US football team, cannot wait to step out onto the hallow turf at Wembley on Wednesday, and insists it will be a ‘special’ night for him and his team.

Last time America played at England’s home of football, in September 1994, Alan Shearer scored a brace as England ran out 2-0 victors.

“That we are going to be playing at Wembley will be so special, for me and the players,” Bradley beamed. “It has been 14 years since we played at Wembley, so we are all looking forward to it and excited.”

Under Bradley the US have won four of their last five games – against Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and South America – and drew against Mexico. Next month they take on Spain and Argentina before beginning their World Cup qualifying campaign against Barbados on June 15.

The 50-year-old, who has been in charge of the national team since December 2006, has identified Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Rio Ferdiand as the players his team need to be wary of in the friendly match.

He said: “We admire a lot of England’s players but certainly Wayne Rooney and Gerrard will be dangerous. Since Fabio Capello has been in control of the national team he has used Gerrard in the same role that he plays for Liverpool so well and now he is so important for England.

“Also Terry and Ferdinand – the two captains from the Champions League final – are players who have been such strong figures for their clubs this season.

“We admire these players and I think it is important ahead of our World Cup qualifiers to play against guys of that calibre.

“It will be a great test for us and we are excited to challenge ourselves against so many guys who have played not only in the Premier League but the Champions League too.

“It is important to take the opportunity to play against very good team. In the last year and a half we have been lucky in that we have played a lot of games in Europe, and we have been able to test ourselves.”

Labels: America, Bob Bradley, England, football

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

LEWSEY ON LEICESTER TIGERS

Josh Lewsey has compared London Wasps’ Guinness Premiership play-off final clash with Leicester Tigers next Saturday as being the equivalent of Manchester United taking on Chelsea – the two top teams in the sport going head-to-head on the greatest stage.

Wasps have won three out of the last five Premiership titles, while the Tigers defeated Gloucester in last year’s final.

And Lewsey, 31, believes that at Twickenham Wasps will not miss neither star No10 Danny Cipriani nor try-scoring winger Tom Voyce – both injured in last Sunday’s 21-10 semi-final win over Bath.

He said: “It’s ironic after what happened between Man United and Chelsea on Wednesday, but there are certain moments in sport which are identified by great rivalries. Leicester and Wasps provide that in the northern hemisphere in rugby and there is a lot of respect between the two clubs.

“To come up from seventh to reach the play-offs, and then to get to the play-off final, speaks volumes for Leicester’s mental toughness of their players and the club set up. Despite what people say about their season, Leicester have done admirably well to pull themselves from being on the brink of not being involved in Europe.

“They have a lot of guys who have a lot of character there. But so have we here at Wasps. That’s why you have a sell-out crowd of 80,000 people coming to Twickenham to watch the two top club sides in the country battling it out for a trophy.”

And on retiring 35-year-old back row hero, Lawrence Dallaglio, Lewsey added: “On the field Lawrence will have to deliver the goods – he will not take his eyes off the prize. Winning the game is the only thing that matters, even if it’s not what the crowd want.

“Leicester have had the rub of the green a couple of times this season. We beat them at Welford Road for the first time in my career though, so honours are even really and it’s all to play for. It should be another close, good game of rugby.”

Labels: Guinness Premiership, Josh Lewsey, Lawrence Dallaglio, rugby union, Twickenham, Wasps

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:45 pm | Permalink | Comments

UNITED EDGE OUT CHELSEA IN SUDDEN DEATH PENALTIES

In the first all-English European Cup final in 53 competitions, it was Edwin Van der Sar who was Manchester United's hero against their biggest Premier League rivals, Chelsea. In a pulsating game at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, penalties were the only way the two teams could be separated.

Fifty years after the Munich air disaster, which killed a number of Sir Matt Busby's young United team, Sir Alex Ferguson's players edged out Chelsea to claim their third European Cup.

United took the lead though their 23-year-old wunderkind Ronaldo, only for Frank Lampard to level the game on the stroke of half time. Ferguson's team had the best of the early exchanges and it was no surprise when the Portuguese winger opening the scoring after 26 minutes.

After a high-tempoed start - only marred by Paul Scholes' rash challenge on Chelsea's Claude Makelele, which ended in both players being booked - Wes Brown crossed from the right flank to Ronaldo, who had shaken free from his marker Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian makeshift right-back was a mere spectator as the United star towered above him and arrowed the ball into the right-hand corner of Petr Cech's goal. It was his 42nd goal of a spectacular season, and - significantly - his first ever against Chelsea.

Ferguson's team could, and should, have made it 2-0 eight minutes later through Carlos Tevez and then Michael Carrick. On the break Wayne Rooney picked out Ronaldo with a sumptuous 60 yard cross-field ball. The winger, with two men on him, knocked the ball in first time, and from six-yards the Argentine's header found the gloves of Cech, who threw himself at the forward.

Carrick hit the rebound straight, and the Czech stopper did well to parry the ball away. Two minutes before the interval, in a half which United dominated, Cech came to the rescue again, rushing out well to cause Tevez to skid his shot agonisingly wide.

In Chelsea's only significant chance of the first 45 minutes, Lampard laced home from inside the box, following up Essien's long shot, which had deflected off Rio Ferdinand's back.

The Blues had the better of a tight second half, and Didier Drogba came closest to breaking the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining. The Ivorian's shot from 35 yards rocketed through the United defence and crashed off Van der Sar's left upright.

Lampard crashed the crossbar in extra time, and the game when to penalties, but not before Drogba had struck Nemanja Vidic and been ejected.

Cech, who had previously never saved a penalty in Chelsea colours, saved Ronaldo's kick, and Blues captain John Terry could have won the game with his spot-kick, when the scores were 4-4. Terry send Van der Sar the wrong way but his strike grazed the right-hand post and bounced wide, leaving the 27-year-old, slumped on the floor, wanting the ground to swallow him up.

The shootout went to sudden death and it was United, who came from behind in 1999 to win the Champions League against Bayern Munich, who ran out winners when Nicolas Anelka had his penalty saved by the tall Dutch stopper.

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:54 pm | Permalink | Comments

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RATINGS

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2)

Edwin Van der Sar (8/10)
At 37, Van der Sar belied his years by pulling off a number of top reaction saves early on, and was the ultimate hero as he kept out Anelka’s sudden death penalty. The Dutchman won the competition 13 years ago with Ajax, and was helpless with Lampard’s goal.

Wes Brown (7/10)
Benched when United lifted the trophy in 1999, Brown proved his worth with a mature showing last night. He defended with steel and marauded well, assisting Ronaldo’s opener with an inviting cross.

Rio Ferdiand (5/10)
The United captain was booked before half time, and two minutes later Essien’s shot rebounded off his back allowing Lampard to strike home. Not the 29-year old’s best performance.

Nemanja Vidic (8/10)
The brave Serbian missed Tuesday’s training but was solid against Drogba – Chelsea’s biggest threat. Dominated in the air but could not do much about Lampard’s goal.

Patrice Evra (6/10)
The 27-year-old French international was largely anonymous before the interval, though he dealt with Joe Cole well, and showed good fitness in extra time.

Paul Scholes (6/10)
The 33-year-old, who missed out against Bayern Munich nine years ago, had a big hand in Ronaldo’s header and a good first half, but was replaced by Giggs after 88 minutes.

Owen Hargreaves (6/10)
The busy £17m signing from Bayern Munich battled well on the right. He harried, crossed and tackled with lung-bursting energy. Had to be especially combative in the second half when Chelsea were on top.

Michael Carrick (6/10)
Former Tottenham playmaker Carrick should have put the game beyond Chelsea, but his drive in the 35th minute was saved well by Cech.

Cristiano Ronaldo (8/10)
The gallingly talented Portuguese finally proved he can perform on the big stage. The 23-year-old’s 42nd goal of a dizzying season was his first against Chelsea. Missed in the shootout.

Carlos Tévez (5/10)
The tireless 24-year-old Argentine fluffed two gilt-edged chances in the first half, both from inside the six-yard box. The first forced a good save but the second was profligate.

Wayne Rooney (6/10)
A bustling, if not frustrated, show from the 22-year-old, fused with moments of class. Laced a pin-point 60 yard cross-field ball to Ronaldo which should have put United 2-0 up, and a cross that Tévez wasted.

Substitutes:

Ryan Giggs
In his 759th game for the Reds he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of appearances for United when he came on for Scholes after 88 minutes and almost scored in extra time.

Nani
On for Rooney, the other Portuguese trickster, failed to adjust to the tempo of the game.

Kuszczak, Anderson, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (7/10)
The 66-year-old Scot was as vocal as usual – both with his own players and with the officials. Made his first change two minutes before the end, after a half under the cosh.

CHELSEA (4-3-3)

Petr Cech (/10)
The Czech Republic No1 was a spectator for Ronaldo’s header. However the 26-year-old pulled off a top-drawer double save minutes later to keep his side in the contest. Saved the Portuguese’s spot kick to put Chelsea in the driving seat.

Michael Essien (6/10)
The Ghanaian, 25, looked out of position at right back against mesmeric winger Ronaldo, who flummoxed him in the first half, though he grew into the game after the interval.

John Terry (7/10)
Having recovered from his dislocated elbow, the Chelsea captain contained Tévez, and could only watch as Ronaldo headed past Cech. Did well to motivate his team at the break, but wanted the ground to eat him up after scuffing his crucial penalty.

Ricardo Carvalho (6/10)
Lacked the anticipation he normally exhibits, and was booked for a violent tackle on his fellow countryman, Ronaldo, in the first half. The 30-year-old grew into the game, however.

Ashley Cole (4/10)
Recovered from ankle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, and – despite early change of boots – he failed to get to grips with the magnitude of the game.

Frank Lampard (7/10)
Oozed inventiveness in the midfield and pulled Chelsea back into the game with a fortunate goal. The 29-year-old also crashed the underside of United’s bar in extra time.

Claude Makelele (6/10)
Harshly booked early on, the French holding midfielder was in the wars all evening. The 35-year-old stymied the contributions of Scholes and Rooney as the game wore on.

Michael Ballack (7/10)
Slow to impose himself on the final, the 31-year-old German captain proved he has a big match temperament with some good shots and clever distribution.

Florent Malouda (4/10)
Largely anonymous for the first 90 minutes, the 27-year-old French winger – a £13.3m signing from Lyon – was substituted for Kalou in extra time.

Didier Drogba (6/10)
Ivorian striker Drogba took nearly 80 minutes to have his first meaningful effort, and rattled the post with it. Kept quiet by the imposing Vidic, much to his frustration, which spilled over when he struck the Serbian and was ejected in extra time.

Joe Cole (5/10)
The diminutive Chelsea No10, one of four West Ham old boys, struggled to stamp his mark on the game. The 26-year-old, used on the right, was handled well by Evra and replaced by Anelka in extra time.

Substitutes:

Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti
All entered the fray in extra time but had few chances to show their shooting skills. Frenchman Anelka had his spot kick saved to hand United the game.

Cudicini, Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex

Manager: Avram Grant (6/10)
The Israeli looked clueless when Ronaldo nodded his opponents in front and his team looked for direction. But he geed up his troops at the interval and they started asking more questions of United.

Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (6/10)
The Slovakian man in black, who turned 40 last Friday, was quick on his whistle and in dishing out his cards. He might have spoiled the game by booking both Scholes and Makelele after 20 minutes.

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

BOPARA HINTS AT JOINING IPL NEXT SEASON

Ravi Bopara has admitted he could be tempted by the riches of the Indian
Premier League next season if he doesn't get back into the England Test side.

The Essex all-rounder, who made his One Day International debut in February
last year before starring in the World Cup, made his Test bow in December on
the tour to Sri Lanka, but failed with both the bat and the ball and was
dropped.

Bopara, who averaged only 8.40 in the sub-continent, reportedly declined a
six-figure contract from an unnamed IPL franchise so he could work on his game
and earn his England place back.

But after a good start to the county season and no recall in sight, the
23-year-old has admitted he could play in India's Twenty20 tournament next year.

"I am really hungry this season for runs and I am trying to get back into the
England side," he said. "I would do anything to get back into the side.

"I've had a good start to the season but I am trying not to put too much
pressure on myself. I just do what I know and I have practised hard over the
winter and I am practising hard during the season.

"I understood that the England team was going to pick itself for the beginning
of this summer unless there were injuries.

"We won the Test series in New Zealand and the batsmen have done well in the
last few games.

"But I want to prove myself again, and I know that if I am to get back into the
Test team I need to play four-day cricket for Essex. And I didn't play in the
IPL because I didn't want to miss any games. The decision was a gut feeling and
it wasn't too hard to make."

Bopara, who bowls right-arm medium pace, added: "My bowling has been going
really well this season too and is another thing I have been working on.

"I know that I will never have the quickest pace so I am having to be cleverer
with my deliveries. I have been swinging it both ways and have a slower ball.

"I have spoken to a few people from England and the ECB and they have praised
me for not playing in the IPL.

"The Test series in Sri Lanka did not go how I wanted it to go on a personal
note. But I am glad that it has happened this early in my career - it has made
me a better player now.

"I went back and worked on things I knew I had to improve and I can see the
changes already.

"But the decision I made about the IPL was for this season only. It was based on
just what I want to do this season. I don't know what my decisions are going to
be in the future - next year for instance. I will have a look at it further
down the line and see how it goes.

"I have seen a few of the IPL games and the grounds are tiny - people are half
hitting it for six. It looks good fun."

Labels: England, Essex CCC, Indian Premier League, Ravi Bopara, Sri Lanka

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:04 pm | Permalink | Comments

WORSLEY: CIPRIANI WILL COME BACK STRONGER

Danny Cipriani will come back stronger than ever following his horrific ankle
injury, according to Wasps and England team-mate Joe Worsley.

The 20-year-old fly-half is expected to leave Lister Hospital in Chelsea tomorrow having had an operation on a broken ankle sustained in Wasps' Guinness
Premiership semi-final win against Bath on Sunday.

He is expected to be out of first team action for at least six months, ruling
him out of England's tour to New Zealand next month. But Worsley says
Cipriani is in good spirits.

The 30-year-old flanker said: "We are just a bit sorry for Danny and [Tom]
Voyce [who also went to hospital after dislocating his shoulder] - Danny more,
because he will be out for longer.

"A few of us guys have been to see him in hospital and there has been some text
message banter. He seems OK though, and it's his character to just get on
with things regardless.

"You can see that on the rugby pitch and he will do it again when he comes back
from his injury, I'm positive."

The Wasps man is pleased that Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss, 25, has been
called up to replace Cipriani for the two Test series against the All Blacks.

He continued: "It's a good choice to select Dan. He had a good World Cup and
was unlucky not to be selected after that. He is a really good, powerful
player."

And Worsley, who won the World Cup in 2003 but missed out on last year's final
after suffering an injury in the semi-final against France, is sure that there
is no curse of the England No10 shirt.

In the 2003 final against Australia Jonny Wilkinson knocked over the winning
drop kick in extra time to earn England their only World Cup. But Wilkinson has
been injured on-and-off for the past five years.

"I don't think there is a curse," Worsley said. "It's just one of those things
- rugby is getting more and more physical and occasionally you will get these
types of injury. Hopefully this is Cip's one bad injury out the way."

And on the competition for the England No10 shirt - now between Bath's Olly
Barkley and Sale's Charlie Hodgson - Worsley added: "Olly has had a very good
year playing for Bath, despite having the Sword of Damocles hanging over his
head for a while - he deserves his chance. Hopefully he can continue his good
form on tour.

"Charlie is another very good distributor of the ball, and a great player to
play with. The problem is that they both haven't played No10 for England for a
while.

"But I think what will happen is that whoever is in form coming into the tour
will be given the first shot. I'm sure they will both get a good shot at
showing what they can do."

Labels: Daniel Cipriani, Guinness Premiership, Joe Worsley

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:51 pm | Permalink | Comments

SUTCLIFFE: 2018 WORLD CUP BID COULD BE JEOPARDISED

Gerald Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport and Tourism, has urged Manchester United and Chelsea supporters attending tomorrow's Champions League final at Moscow to behave themselves.

The Bradford South Labour MP, who took his cabinet position last June, was dismayed at the clashes between Glasgow Rangers' fans and police, as well as Zenit St. Petersburg supporters, after the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last Wednesday.

And he fears that any more violence could mark an indelible stain on England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Sutcliffe, who will be present at the Luzhniki Stadium, said: "We are hoping for a great game, a wonderful occasion and I am looking forward to what should be a fantastic advert for British football. Hopefully tonight will go without any hitches.

"Bad behaviour could very much jeopardise our 2018 bid. The World Cup is a showpiece event and what people don't want is violence attached to it. We want to have a very strong bid for 2018 and we want a maximum unity in the country to make sure that we are successful.

"We believe that we already have the stadia for 2018, but we want more than that. We want to show people that we can create a legacy for football throughout the world."

Sutcliffe, a Manchester United supporter, continued: "But we won't be successful if we have situations like last week in Manchester. The main concern for me about last week was the reports from the Zenit St. Petersburg manager [Dick Advocaat] himself and from Uefa.

"I have been very strong since I have been sports minister to try to have a zero tolerance to racism in sport. I am concerned by some of the comments that have been made. Things were ruined in Manchester last week by a small number of people - it is unacceptable behaviour."

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Gerald Sutcliffe, Glasgow Rangers, Manchester United, Zenit St. Petersburg

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:43 pm | Permalink | Comments

HARLEQUINS DEFEAT 'FRAGILE' HULL

Two tries each for Tony Clubb and Chris Melling in an inspired second-half performance helped Harlequins come from 16-0 behind to win 36-26 over fellow Super League strugglers Hull. The visitors’ loose-forward, Richard Whiting – who later broke his leg – collected Adam Dykes’ bomb to open the scoring after two minutes. Another Dykes’ kick 20 minutes later, found Mike Burnett who shipped to Tommy Lee, who scored.

Danny Washbrook made it 16-0 to Hull after breezing through a sluggish Quins defence, while Todd Byrne missed his first goal. But the home team managed to pull a converted try back through 20-year-old bruising winger Clubb, just before the first hooter.

Coach Brian McDermott’s team talk once again did the trick, and woke Quins from their slumber. Only 30 seconds after the restart Melling intercepted a Hull pass and slipped in Julian Rinaldi. A converted try from Quins’ Michael Worrincy soon followed, while in reply Great Britain centre Kirk Yeomans spirited 60 yards to take Hull to 20-12.

Melling got himself on the scoresheet after good work from captain Scott Hill, and Quins took the lead for the first time. Clubb muscled over for his second try of the game with 20 minutes remaining, with Henry Paul failing to convert.

Hull winger Matt Sing caused Quins a nervous last five minutes, when he dropped on Whiting’s kick through. But when Melling clung on to Hill’s pass to complete the scoring, he ensured Quins won their first league game in four attempts.

“I thought we were poor, but as a team we turned it around in the second half,” Quins coach McDermott offered. “It was important to win.”

The visiting Hull coach, Peter Sharp, said: “I just think we are physically and mentally fragile. We are down on confidence and we have a lot of kids playing and some people are not getting the job done.”

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:17 pm | Permalink | Comments

MORGAN BUILDING FORMIDABLE HULL KR TEAM

Justin Morgan, Super League's youngest coach, took just a year to stamp his authority on Hull Kingston Rovers and steer the club back to the top flight in 2006, following an absence of 13 years. After surviving their first season in the Super League last year, the former Toulouse coach's team are now playing sparkling Rugby League and producing results that are forcing observers to sit up and take notice.

But 32-year-old Morgan has no intention of resting on his laurels at Hull KR. Much like his coaching idol, Sir Alex Ferguson, he wants to continue challenging himself and remain at the New Craven Park helm indefinitely, in order to cultivate a winning legacy and emulate the success enjoyed by the club in the 1980s. Morgan took time out of his busy schedule to talk to Rugby League World about the experiences and people that have shaped his career.

Born in Sydney, Morgan was schooled at Patrician Brothers, Fairfield - the alma mater of Test greats Peter Stirling, Greg Alexander and Michael Vella, among others - and Rugby League coursed through his veins. Though he made his first grade debut for Parramatta in 1994, as second row forward, he soon moved to prop. After five years with the Eels, Morgan moved to Canberra and, the following season, to New Zealand Warriors, before hanging up his boots aged just 26 through injury.

"I thought it was time to finish," says Morgan, who is three years younger than Super League XIII's current oldest player, Catalans' Jason Croker - a team-mate from his year at Canberra Raiders. "I had lost my desire to a degree and I wasn't physically able to do the things I wanted to do. I had had both my knees operated on - one in 1998 and the other in 2001 - and struggled with a back problem my whole career. Having played nine seasons, all in the first grade, I wanted to bow out gracefully."

In 2000 - a year before he retired from the top level - Morgan, who had never appeared in the green and yellow of Australia, received an inquisitive phone call from Wales coach Clive Griffiths. "I got a call from Clive and he asked me if I had any Welsh heritage," he smiles. "I guessed, especially with my surname, that I did. I qualified through my Welsh grandfather and went to Britain to play in the World Cup. It was a great opportunity to play international Rugby League - my time had certainly passed to play for Australia - and to experience a different kind of Rugby League. It was interesting to see how a team come together and gel for six weeks of intensive competition."

Unfancied Wales advanced from Group B and defeated Papua New Guinea in the quarter-final before meeting favourites Australia in the last four at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. "No one thought we would even get out of our group, and we were beating the Australians at half-time - it was amazing experience," continues Morgan.

"I remember coming off at the interval and everybody connected with the team and coaches were buzzing with excitement. But I was absolutely shattered, having played most of the first 40 minutes. I said to Clive: 'I'm gone, I'm done, I'm finished.' I had to be replaced after about three or four minutes, and we ended up losing 46-22."

When Morgan retired from playing, he considered a number of career options. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do," Morgan admits. It was Daniel Anderson, then coach of Warriors and a member of his extended family - Morgan's sister is married to Anderson's brother - who suggested he turn his hand to management.

He continues: "I had a couple of offers to stay in the NRL and there was a possibility of staying in New Zealand and doing some media work and some part-time coaching. But I wanted a new challenge, a new adventure, and coaching provided that for me. I had a couple of long conversations with Daniel, and he suggested I should do it. He thought I had a fairly good grasp and knowledge of the game and a good level of communication."

Elite One side Toulouse offered Morgan a player-coaching position, and he accepted, thinking he would learn more in the south of France than almost anywhere else. "I thought to myself, 'If I am going to have a go at this coaching gig then I should throw myself in the deep end'," he says. "I could have stayed in the NRL and had the facilities and had the motivated players and had an organisation that was willing to put money into the team. Or I could really see if I was any good at Toulouse and taste the purest form of coaching."

There, among the vineyards, he cut his teeth, and his nascent talent was soon evident. He captured the Rugby League world's imagination by propelling Toulouse to the Challenge Cup semi-final in July 2005 - the first French club to manage such a feat. He played a dozen games when necessary, his last en route to the semi-final against Leeds Rhinos (they lost 56-18 at Galpharm Stadium), in the fourth round win over Cumbrian amateur side Wath Brow Hornets. He began to revel in all the responsibility that the coaching job entailed - from training and selection to even sorting out transport and eating arrangements.

"I started to really enjoy the elements of coaching - the Monday to Friday. As a coach over there you have to do everything: organise the bus; sort out the meals. It gave me a really good grounding and made me understand what makes a club tick.

"I couldn't speak a word of French when I first went over there, so that was another challenge. It took me a good 18 months to get a good grasp of the lingo. To start with I had an assistant who was bilingual, but often emotion and meaning got lost in translation. That was an issue for me originally. I felt as though I had the Rugby League knowledge having played in the NRL and spent some time with some good coaches but I needed to develop my man management skills very quickly. It was a steep learning curve."

Morgan proved a quick learner and, as his French improved, the players began to better understand what he was attempting to do. He instilled a strong sense of belief which, despite knowing rival teams had superior players, saw them beat Widnes and Doncaster on the road to the last four of the Challenge Cup. But it was no shock to Morgan that his team had advanced so far.

He continues: "I wasn't that surprised to get to the semis, as you have to have belief that you can win all the time. If you look at the teams we beat on paper, like Doncaster and Widnes, there was no way in the world that we were as talented as those two teams. But we had that belief and that comes down to man management, and knowing how to get the best out of people.

"The best coaches are not the people with the most knowledge, best tactics, or anything like that. They top guys are the ones who get the best out of their team each and every week and every day, like Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He is top of the tree in terms of coaching. And that was all I did to them; through man management I gave them the belief that they could do it."

Neil Hugdell, chairman of Hull KR - then in National League One - was impressed with his achievements in France, and phoned him soon after the semi-final, having dismissed Harvey Howard. Initially Morgan was unwilling to move as he thought he had "unfinished business" at Toulouse.

"To be perfectly honest I had little desire to leave," he admits. "We had just won the semi-final of the Elite competition and I thought I had another 12, maybe 24 months left in me over in France. But I spent an hour-and-a-half with Neil and Paul [Lakin, the club's chioef executive], understanding what their vision for the club was and I made up my mind then that it was the club I wanted to go to.

"I knew about Hull KR when I was growing up and their success - it's a big name in Rugby League. I knew it would be a huge job, and it was too good an opportunity to miss out on. And I needed to progress - I knew that I wouldn't become the greatest coach in the world by coaching Toulouse my whole life.

"Neil and Paul were planning for the long term and whereas at some of the other big clubs you are just part of the machine for just two or three years, at our club you get a chance to help shape the culture for the future - that's very attractive."

The first eight weeks in Hull, at the business end of the 2005 season, were tricky, however. The team had just won the Northern Rail Cup but, under the stewardship of Morgan, were dumped out of the National League One play-offs after a shock defeat to Halifax. "So I had to make some tough decisions," he says. "I had to get rid of some people at the club who had been fans' favourites, but I needed to create a culture - my culture. And I had the 100 per cent support of the chairman, and I'm sure he copped a bit of flak over it.

"My way of coaching is not one where I rule with a big stick, and because of that I have never had any issue with being younger than some of the players - we are all in this together. To a degree it is probably a bit of an advantage being a little younger as you still have a good understanding of the game. I have fresh in my mind what it was like to be a player and when it is like that you can cope with situations and formulate decisions a little better."

** The following season Hull KR were promoted and achieved a club record run of 24 consecutive wins on the way. They survived Super League relegation last season at the expense of Salford Reds with a 42-6 derby win over Hull FC - a rivalry that Morgan is enjoying. "It is unique to our city - I have never seen anything quite like it in my life and it is great for the sport."

Stand-off Paul Cooke, who had been at Hull FC for nearly a decade, soured relations last April by walking out on the club and joining Hull KR. Despite being criticised by pundit Tony Rea, the 27-year-old - one of a number of inspired signings by Morgan - is backed to the hilt by his coach.

"Paul has been outstanding both on and off the field," he says. "To sign him last year was a massive coup for us and we are proud that he wants to wear the red and white of Hull KR. He has been first class for me and the club."

It was significant that when Morgan's team defeated their local rivals for the second time this season at May's Millennium Magic, the try scorers were all new signings. Having gelled quickly, Daniel Fitzhenry, Peter Fox, Chev Walker and Jake Watson all went over in the 22-17 win. Impressive wins over St Helens (24-22) - against his advisor Anderson, who also coached him at school as 15-year old - and Bradford Bulls (20-18) have proved that Hull KR are on the up, and Morgan is building a team of determined, skilled players.

He continues: "There are a cross-section of characters here, and I can help them with their knowledge of Rugby League. But when the pressure is on and the chips are down, it's character and personality that comes to the fore. We have a very good environment at the club - and it's not just for today. We are creating for the future. I'm proud that those players that we have brought in are getting the accolades that they deserve. They are not the finished article yet though - they have plenty to go, which is nice.

"I take a huge amount of guidance from the senior players - give them ownership of what we do, our training timetable and the systems that we have. When people have ownership they feel as though they are making the decisions, which they are, and they respond much better. That is one of the key points."

Morgan is very happy with how things are progressing, but knows that silverware is what will set him, and his team, above the rest. He adds: "I would love to be at Hull KR for another 20 years, but I want to bring trophies to the club. The moment you sit back and bask in your glory is the moment you need to hang up your clipboard and give it to someone else.

"I've ticked the boxes so far, but the ultimate boxes for coaches are trophies and I want to do that for Neil, the team and myself. We have been treading on stepping stones and we are moving forward but I still feel as though we are on the same chapter.

"Maybe one day, if I get the opportunity, I will go back to Australia, but at the moment I'm very pleased with my role here. And like Sir Alex Ferguson (who has been at Manchester United for 22 years), I would like to do something along those lines. Ultimately it would be good to have a long spell at one club because I think it is a true testament of a good coach."

Labels: Hull KR, Justin Morgan, Rugby league, Sir Alex Ferguson, Super League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:33 pm | Permalink | Comments

McGEECHAN NAMED AS NEW LIONS COACH

The British and Irish Lions have appointed the "Sir Alex Ferguson of rugby" to lead next year's tour of South Africa.

London Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan, who takes charge of his fourth Lions tour, has been compared to the Manchester United manager by Lions chairman Andy Irvine because of his success in rugby.

And the Scot, who was also the Lions' head coach in 1989, 1993 and 1997 and was assistant coach in 2005, says he is thrilled to be back in the hot seat.

"The perennial bad penny just keeps turning up, doesn't he?" the 61-year-old joked. "I'm delighted - it is an honour and a privilege to be given this fantastic opportunity again.

"Having had a scent of it three years ago [as assistant] I realised how important it is to me. In 2005, a lot of Lions players were coming off their peak, but this time they are coming up to their peak.

"The Lions are special, they are unique - you can't compare them to anything else you ever do. Ten games in seven or eight weeks is a unique challenge. If I hadn't been coaching full time at Wasps I would not have considered it.

"The fact that South Africa are World Champions makes it a very special tour. It will be three World Cup finals, and I am looking forward to that challenge."

Irvine, a full-back who won 51 caps for Scotland in his playing days, thinks that McGeechan is the only man for the Lions coaching job, and will improve on the 2005 tour to New Zealand, when the Lions lost all three Tests under Sir Clive Woodward.

Irvine, a Lion in 1974, 1977 and 1980, said: "From day one Ian was very much in our thoughts. We wanted someone who could share the ethos and spirit of the Lions, and he fits the bill.

"If you look at Geech's record, it speaks for itself, and he is still actively coaching. The big question was 'did he still want it?'; 'was the hunger still there?'; 'was the desire still there?'. I'm pleased to say that he is possibly as fired up as he has ever been.

"There are similarities between Geech and Sir Alex Ferguson. Not just because they are both Scottish, but because their desire and hunger are insatiable. Ian is a fantastic, innovative thinker and one of the best coaches of all time.

"If you had a straw poll of all the players that would come into Lions contention and asked them who their dream coach would be I think Ian would get the majority of the vote - and that is very attractive.

"He's a very young 61-years old - he is as fit as a flea. He loves the Lions to bits and he can see the potential.

"He is already extremely excited about some of the young talent coming through and he is as enthusiastic now as I have ever seen him."

McGeechan also toured twice with the Lions as a player, in 1974 and 1977. Tour manager Gerald Davies added: "The statistics tell you all you need to know - I'm not sure his achievements can be matched again.

"When Ian first took over that role as Lions coach, I'm not sure he would have thought that 20 years down the line he would still be doing it and still be the best at his game. It is Ian McGeechan who sets the benchmark - you can't better him."

Labels: Ian McGeechan, Lions, rugby union

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

BOOTHROYD HOPING TO CREATE HISTORY

Aidy Boothroyd, the Watford manager, is "strangely excited" despite the fact that his team are two goals down going into their Championship play-off second leg against Hull. The 37-year-old could become the first man in play-off history to pull back more than a single goal deficit tomorrow at the KC Stadium. He has been given a boost, however, by the news that captain John Eustace will be available.

The central midfielder had been shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Friend in the first leg against for an alleged butt, though the Football Association rescinded his automatic suspension in London today.

Earlier in the tie referee Friend had disallowed a seemingly good Danny Shittu goal, scored after only four minutes. Hull's Nicky Barmby netted four minutes later and Dean Windass fired the visitors two goals ahead on 23 minutes.

Boothroyd was disappointed by Friend's performance, and said: "We were the victim of two very poor refereeing decisions which you don't expect in a game of that magnitude. But I am quite enjoying this in a strange sort of way.

"We are now the hunted rather than the hunter and I enjoy it because you want these tests. You go on all the courses and do all the theory but there is nothing quite like being on the touchline and having to make a battle plan.

"Without doubt this is the biggest game for the club, but all the pressure is on Hull to perform."

An optimistic Boothroyd, whose team have won only once in the last 15 games, will hope central defender Shittu comes though a late fitness test on his hamstring, continued: "I think 3-0 would have been almost impossible, a massive task. But at 2-0 we always have a chance. If we get the first goal, then you never know. It is different when people don't expect you to do it."

"I won't need to pep the players up - it is a do-or-die game. We are going to have to have all of our big-game players."

Hull manager Phil Brown would be vexed if his team do not advance from their position to Wembley's final - dubbed the "£60m game", such are the riches of the Premier League. The fact that Hull is the largest city in Europe never to have had a football club in the top flight is an extra burden that the former Bolton assistant manager also feels.

Brown, who first joined the club as assistant to manager Phil Parkinson only to succeed him in December 2006, said: "When I first arrived at the KC Stadium, under Phil and under [then chairman] Adam Pearson, I could tell that the club has been built for bigger things - for success.

"That relative success came from two successive promotions: from second division to first; first division to Championship. And now, after two survival campaigns in the Championship, we have a full stadium every game, and we are on the verge of the Premier League.

"It would irk me if we didn't make it. We have given ourselves a great chance by going two goals up but we need to get the job done - it is not over by any stretch of the imagination."

Labels: Aidy Boothroyd, Championship, Football Association, Hull City, Premier League, Watford

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:01 pm | Permalink | Comments

OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

Over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries will be competing at the Beijing Olympics, which begins on August 8, and Velocity has cherry-picked five youngsters who may be among the medals not just this year, but also in four years' time at the London Games in 2012.

There will be 302 events (165 men's, 127 women's, and 10 mixed - nine more than in Athens 2004) in 28 sports and athletes will be striving to achieve the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius and Fortius" (Latin for "Swifter, Higher and Stronger"). In all, 31 venues will be used, including the 80,000 capacity national stadium known as the "Bird's Nest", and more than 4 billion people are expected to tune into the Games on television, with over 20,000 journalists covering the event on the ground.

Four years ago in Greece, America topped the medals table, with 35 golds, 39 silvers and 29 bronzes. China were a distant second (32, 17, 14) but are expected to challenge the USA more closely on home turf. Russia (27, 27, 38), Australia (27, 16, 16) and Japan (16, 9, 12) followed. Former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch says the Games in China's capital will be "the best in Olympic history". Below are five names to look out for:

Elise Matthysen
The swimmer, who will be 16 years old in August*, will be competing for Belgium in the 100m breaststroke, and is the first Belgian woman to qualify for the Games in eight years.

Matthysen has been compared to Belgian legend Brigitte Becue, who was also 15 when she qualified for the Seoul Olympics in 1988. She broke Becue's Belgian 100m breaststroke record at the European Championships in Eindhoven this year.

In the heats she clocked a time of 1:09.10 - 0.06 seconds faster than Becue's time in 1998. Matthysen then went onto finish fourth in the final with a time of 1:08.95 - a result that has left her craving a medal in Beijing.

"I was nervous before the final, but the nerves disappeared during my warm-up," she says. "My first reaction after seeing that I finished fourth was one of disappointment. I was so close to winning a medal. But the time I swam made me feel better."

Matthysen's coach is Dutchman Ronald Gaastra, who helped Frederik Deburghgraeve win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Deburghgraeve also competed in the 100m breaststroke, setting a world record in the final. Gaastra's long-term goal with Matthysen is winning an Olympic medal in London 2012.

Jeroen Hertzberger
The Netherlands will be among the favourites to win the gold medal in Beijing in the men's and women's hockey, and 22-year-old Herzberger is likely to be firing in the goals for his country. The striker plays his club hockey - along with his two elder brothers - at home-town club Rotterdam, where he also studies at the Randstad Topsport Academy.

Herzberger starred for his country in the Champions Trophy at the end of last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, scoring the winner against Korea to seal third place for Holland. The Dutch won the gold medal in 1996 and 2000, but lost out to Australia in the 2004 final. Having come through the national youth ranks, Hertzberger cannot wait to take part in his first Olympics and try to win the gold back for his country.

"The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world," he grins. "I'm really excited and expect the Games to be amazing. I've been talking to some of the other guys who have been telling me what to expect.

"The Netherlands are a good candidate for the gold medal in Beijing. Australia and Germany will also be strong - it'll be close. The difference in standard between us three is so small."

Will Clarke
The triathlon became an Olympic sport in 2000, and Great Britain's 23-year-old Clarke is in with chance of a podium finish in Beijing, although he is focusing more on winning the gold medal when the Games come to London in 2012. Going into the Beijing Games, the UK are yet to win a medal, of any colour, in either the men's or women's events.

However, that drought could soon be over. Clarke was Britain's top male triathlete last year, finishing fifth at the World Championships in Hamburg and seventh at the Olympic Games test event in Beijing. The 2006 European and World Under-23 Champion is in good form ahead of the Olympics.

Cambridge-born Clarke has a tendency to celebrate his victories with a somersault. "The somersault thing is something I do a lot," he smiles, "because the crowd love it.

"It'll be nice to have Beijing as a practice run, but I am more than likely to do better in London 2012. I'll be a bit older, wiser and stronger."

In 2012, Clarke will be 27, and hopes to be at the peak of his powers. If he continues to improve, there is no reason why he cannot win the gold medal for Britain in 2012 - and you can bet a somersault would follow.

Stephanie Twell
At 15, Twell was the youngest member of the Great Britain team at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, and ever since has been touted as the heir apparent to World Champion middle-distance runner Paula Radcliffe.

In just over a year, in 2006/07, Twell, who will turn 19 on August 17, won two European Junior Cross Country titles, took the 1,500m silver medal at the summer's European Junior Championships, headed European Junior rankings for the year at 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m, topped the World Junior rankings at 1,500m - and achieved the qualification mark for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Colchester-born Twell, who carries a London 2012 badge with her everywhere she goes, has targeted the Games in four years. "I live it, breathe it, dream it," says the strength and conditioning science student at St Mary's University College in Twickenham of the London Olympics.

Brendan Foster, Britain's 1976 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist and one of the most respected pundits in the UK, said: "She seems to have that X-factor."

Andy Schleck
Luxembourg cyclist Schleck rides for Danish team CSC alongside older brother Fränk, who won the Alpe D'Huez stage of the Tour de France in 2006. Twenty-three-year-old Andy has been earmarked as a gold medal prospect in the Beijing road race, along with Fränk and Kim Kirchen.

Team CSC sport director Kim Andersen believes that the younger Schleck has more potential than his brother. "He has an enormous capacity," Anderson says. "You can tell he has a good head and he's a hard worker, just like his brother."

Schleck believes that winning the Olympics would be even more satisfying than wearing the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. "The Olympics road race is perhaps a bigger dream than the Tour," he enthuses.

"We will have three riders: Kirchen, Fränk and me. It is maybe arrogant to say, but we have three riders that can go for a medal.

"I am from Luxembourg, which is a small country, and it may sound silly but I am really proud of it - I love my country. It is my home, it is where I am from, and I am proud of that and I want to do well at the Olympics. Once you have an Olympic medal no one can take that away from you."

*All ages are correct to August 8.

Labels: Andy Schleck, Beijing Olympics, Elise Matthysen, Jeroen Hertzberger, London 2012, Stephanie Twell, Will Clarke

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:15 pm | Permalink | Comments

RHINOS ADVANCE TO THE SIXTH ROUND AT THE EXPENCE OF QUINS IN SCORCHING ENCOUNTER

Leeds Rhinos edged out Harlequins 36-26 in a scintillating fifth round encounter at The Stoop on Sunday. Down 24-4 with just over a half hour remaining, momentum then swung Harlequins’ way as they stormed to 26-24, only for Jason Peacock to ruin the party with a try three minutes from the final hooter.

“That was one hell of a cup tie,” Leeds coach Brian McLennan said. “It was hot and in the second half we had a lack of possession but we hung in there.”

But only just. The Rhinos tumbled out of last year’s competition at the this stage at the hands of Wigan Warriors and it looked as though the London club would trump them too after a scorching second half display.

Two tries each for Henry Paul, who also kicked three goals, and Danny Orr, along with Tony Clubb’s score, were not quite enough for the home side who looked dead and buried at the break.

On the back of two defeats, Quins were sluggish in the baking heat to begin with, and a mistake from winger Will Sharp on his starting debut, allowed Leeds’ Ben Jones-Bishop to open the scoring on 12 minutes.

Clubb muscled a try back for Quins before Danny McGuire scored his first of three in the afternoon for Leeds. A converted try by Scott Donald took Leeds to 18-4 at the interval. McGuire dropped on Matt Diskin’s kick three minutes after the break before the London club’s fight back.

Orr, captain in the absence of injured Rob Purdham, side-stepped over five minutes later. Paul then scored twice in four minutes before scrum half Orr wriggled over again to take his team in front for the first time, only for Peacock to break the hearts of the Harlequins fans. McGuire scored at the death before Kevin Sinfield laced his sixth goal in a perfect kicking game.

“The lads are pissed off,” offered Harlequins coach Brian McDermott. “We have been outstanding for three weeks and we are frustrated not to be winning. I don’t think Leeds stepped off the gas at all but we stepped up.”

Harlequins: Wells, Sharp, Gafa, Howell, Sheriffe, Paul, Orr; Temata, Randell, Ward, Clubb, Worrincy, Mbu

Interchange: Rinaldi, Melling, Haggerty, Grayshon

Tries: Clubb, Orr 2, Paul 2
Goals: Paul 3 (5)

Leeds Rhinos:

Jones-Bishop, Hall, Watkins, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow; Leuluai, Tansey, Scrutton, Abet, Peacock, Sinfield

Interchange: Diskin, Ellis, Worrall, Allan

Tries: Jones-Bishop, McGuire 3, Donald, Peacock
Goals: Sinfield 6 (6)

Referee: Ian Smith

Labels: Brian McDermott, Harlequins Rugby League, Leeds Rhinos, Rob Purdham

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:09 pm | Permalink | Comments

FULHAM PRAY TO FOOTBALLING GODS

Roy Hodgson is concerned that last Saturday’s wild celebrations, after Fulham’s victory over fellow strugglers Birmingham at Craven Cottage, were premature and could come back to haunt them. Indeed the manager believes that those jubilant scenes have heaped even more pressure on his players to perform in their final game against Portsmouth tomorrow.

That 2-0 win moved Hodgson’s side out of the bottom three – where they had been since Boxing Day – for the first time in his four months at the club, sparking a lap of honour led by Hodgson and 79-year-old chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed to the delight of the fans.

The 60-year-old knows, however, that they are not out of the woods yet, and defeat to the FA Cup finalists at Fratton Park could yet condemn them to relegation to the Championship.

“The reception we got from our fans after we beat Birmingham was fantastic,” he said. “If anything it worried me because I don't think we deserved it. We can still slip into the Championship – there's still a big risk of that happening.

"That reception is probably the biggest pressure that has been put upon us because we realised, if we hadn't already, that it was so important to people.”

Hodgson is confident that his team, having won three of their last four games and recorded their first away in 18 months against Reading, will have the momentum to defeat Harry Redknapp’s side.

“If we can beat Reading, Manchester City, Birmingham and Derby, we can go and win at Portsmouth,” he continued. “But I don't think we're favourites to win and we are very much aware that Portsmouth are a very good team with some very good players.

“We've been dead and buried. We were in a dire situation and we have been a very difficult situation for a long time. But it's nice now to have a chance to still be fighting in the final game. All of a sudden we've had a reprieve and if we win our last game maybe we won't be relegated.

“We'll be devastated if we lose. All of us here have wanted to keep Fulham in the Premier League. It's been our dream. We have to do our best and hope the football gods smile upon us.”

If Fulham do survive the drop, there will be no sipping of champagne from Hodgson, however. He added: "If we were to win and stay in the league, there would be such satisfaction for me that I would quite happily go home and have a glass of water and read my book."

Labels: Fulham, Portsmouth, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:31 pm | Permalink | Comments

PLAYOFFS MAKE WARNOCK SICK

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has steered six teams to promotion, four coming via the playoffs, and as he goes for lucky number seven against Bristol City this afternoon, he has revealed that he finds it a tremendously nauseating experience.

“The playoffs are a horrible thing for managers,” said the 59-year-old, who took the reins of the south London side in November, when they were second bottom in the Championship. “I have suffered in every one.

“My worst feeling in football was my second play-off experience in 1991, at Notts County, when we played Middlesbrough. We drew 1-1 up there and we should have won by six, but they equalised late on. It was 0-0 at half time at Meadow Lane and I was feeling physically sick and thinking we do not deserve this.”

For all his nausea, Warnock has a 100 per cent success rate in playoff semi finals, and has only lost one final – at the hands of Wolves in 2003 when in charge of Sheffield United. He insists there is no magic formula, however, and scoffs at the idea of Palace as favourites.

“I don’t see why the bookies think we are favourites,” he continued. “Probably just for my record, but I’m not playing! I don’t know what the secret is (to winning) – I just manage to get through the games.

“It is just a great relief and a delight to be in the playoffs – in that respect we are the underdogs. It would be my greatest achievement even if we get beaten by Bristol City. Considering the position we were in and how we looked at that stage in November, we are just glad we are not in Leicester’s shoes.”

Labels: Championship, Crystal Palace, Neil Warnock, Premier League

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:29 pm | Permalink | Comments

CURBS BACKS CURRENT SQUAD TO PUSH FOR EUROPE

Alan Curbishley will not be dipping into the transfer market this summer as he has backed his injury-hit West Ham to push for European honours next season.

They take on Aston Villa tomorrow afternoon knowing that a win will see them finish in tenth – a far cry from last season when they survived the drop by a whisker.

Having shelled out £29m last summer Curbishley’s squad has been plagued by “an unprecedented amount of injuries”.

He said: “It has been a difficult season. From the second week of pre-season it has been very difficult in terms of injuries. But I have nothing but praise for the players who have featured.

“Last summer we lost an important triangle of players in Carlos Tevez, Yossi Benayoun and Nigel Reo Coker – they played a big part in keeping us up.

“And we replaced them with Craig Bellamy, Julien Faubert and Scott Parker, but they have not featured because of injury.

“It has been a very messy campaign in terms of team selection. The players we have been missing have been the pacy, offensive players, like Kieron Dyer and Bellamy.

“They are the type of players who can unlock a team, especially at home. And they can do much damage away on the break too.”

Curbishley, who meets with Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and the other board members on Monday morning for a season review, doesn’t want to make any signings – as his initial buys have not been allowed to have a fair go.

He added: “I am hoping that sometime in June that I can sit down and say, ‘right, I’ve got at least this 20 players’.”

“I wanted a solid season this year so we could lay some foundations this year. But with the injuries it hasn’t turned out how I wanted.

“But once all the players are back we can be confident that we will be better next year, and push on try and attack that top six.”

Labels: Alan Cubishley, England, football, Premier League, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:25 pm | Permalink | Comments

HILL’S LAST STAND: SARACENS 25-20 BRISTOL

Richard Hill waved goodbye to rugby after 15 years of service this afternoon, having helped his beloved Saracens to a 25-20 victory over Bristol. Dubbed ‘the silent assassin’, flanker Hill, capped 71 times for England, showed plenty of sentiment in front of his home supports at Stadium MK.

“I knew it would be an emotional day,” the bleary-eyed 16st warrior offered after the game, won by Saracens only after winger Kameli Ratuvou’s last-minute try. Hill’s team had gone into the break 15-3 up with scores from Richard Haughton and Noah Cato, and a penalty and a conversion from debutant fly half Alex Goode, who was only five when Hill made his debut for Saracens.

But Bristol’s impressive young centre Luke Eves scored twice, and fly half Ed Barnes slotted 10 points with his boot to take the score to 20-15 to the west coasters with 30 minutes remaining. However another Goode penalty and Ratuvou’s try in the left-hand corner fittingly won the match for Hill’s team.

“I have had a long time to think about retirement,” said the 34-year-old, who has twice snubbed doctors’ advice to retire after sustaining two serious injuries to his left knee that have left their mark – he is only able to walk with a limp now. “I have gone out on my terms, which is quite satisfying, knowing what I have been through.”

The 6’ 2” back rower made his debut for Saracens in 1993, and his England debut four years later. Part of the vaunted triumvirate along with Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio, he played a big part when England won the World Cup in 2003, and, significantly, was the only person never to be dropped by Sir Clive Woodward. Hill played five times for the British Lions – he would have played more, but for injury – and leaves Saracens for a quiet life, away from rugby, he has hinted.

“There were a number of times when I thought the game would be taken away from me,” Hill continued, spilling out his words. “It’s been a special 15 years at Saracens but I’m fairly content now and a win in front of home supporters is nice way to go out.”

Coach Alan Gaffney, who is also leaving Saracens in the summer for Leinster, added: “Hillys has been one of the best guys to work with and he is one of the game’s greats. He is irreplaceable, and it was a great send off for him.”

Stadium MK (8,050)

Saracens: Haughton (Ross 50), Cato (Penney 57), Sorrell, Powell, Ratuvou, Goode, de Kock (c) (Dickens 59); Lloyd, Cairns, Visagie (Johnston 47), Ryder, Chesney (Fullarton 59), Gustard (Barrell 69), Hill, Skirving.
Replacement not used: Ongaro.

Tries: Haughton, Cato, Ratuvou
Conversions: Goode 2 (from 3)
Penalties: Goode 2 (from 2)

Bristol: Arscott, Elliott, Brew, Eves (Higgitt 63), Lemi, Barnes, Thomas (Beveridge 45); Hogan (Crompton 26), Linklater, Bracken, Sambucetti (To'oala 66), Budgett, Grieve, Pennycook, Ward-Smith (c).
Replacements not used: Prosser, Hohneck, Barden.

Tries: Eves 2
Conversions: Barnes 2 (from 2)
Penalties: Barnes 2 (from 3)

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

Labels: England, Guinness Premiership, Richard Hill, Saracens

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:06 pm | Permalink | Comments

HODGSON WORRIED BY PREMATURE CELEBRATIONS

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is worried that last Saturday’s celebrations, after their 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Birmingham, were premature, and have lumped even more pressure on his players to perform in their final game against Portsmouth on Sunday.

The victory lifted Fulham out of the bottom three for the first time since Boxing Day, and prompted a lap of honour led by Hodgson and chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed to the delight of the fans.

However the 60-year-old knows that they are not out of the woods yet, and defeat at Fratton Park could spell relegation.

He said: "The reception we got from our fans after we beat Birmingham was fantastic. If anything it worried me because I don't think we deserved it. We can still slip into the Championship – there's still a big risk of that happening.

"That reception is probably the biggest pressure that has been put upon us because we realised, if we hadn't already, that it was so important to people.”

And on defeating the FA Cup finalists, Hodgson added: “If we can beat Reading, Manchester City, Birmingham and Derby, we can go and win at Portsmouth.

“But I don't think we're favourites to win and we are very much aware that Portsmouth are a very good team with some very good players.”

Labels: Fulham, Portsmouth, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

NEVLAND: NO FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR FULHAM

Fulham chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed will not be rewarding Erik Nevland and his teammates with Harrods hampers, or anything else, should they complete their Houdini act and escape relegation by defeating Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon.

The 79-year-old Egyptian owner, who bought the club from Jimmy Hill eleven years ago when they were competing in the then Third Division, will only be offering words of encouragement.

And striker Nevland, who entered last Saturday’s crucial game with fellow strugglers Birmingham with 23 minutes remaining and scored to secure three priceless points, believes that Al-Fayed’s presence is incentive enough.

“No, there will be no rewards,” the 30-year-old Norwegian smiled. “He has been an inspiration because he has been down a few times to talk to the players at the training ground and also before the games – as he did when we played Birmingham.

“He said that he wanted to stay in the league and he wanted us to win the game. It’s an inspiration to see his commitment to the club and it gives us a bit more of an incentive.”

The 2-0 victory against Birmingham gave Fulham their third win in four games and lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time since Boxing Day.

And Sunday’s Fratton Park clash with FA Cup finalists Portsmouth will be the most important in Nevland’s life.

He continued: “It has to be the biggest game of my career because of the consequences.

“I have played in the cup final in Norway and have vast experience but this is as big as they come.

“I have been in a relegation fight before, in Norway with Viking Stavanger, but then we pulled it off before the last game, and we could play with no pressure. Now it is down to the last game, the last minute, the last second – it is going to be really exciting.”

Manager Roy Hodgson, who took the reins from sacked Lawrie Sanchez in January, agrees that survival should be inspiration enough.

He said: “The victory in this game could be so sweet and could give us such rewards, that any financial rewards would be superfluous.

“Our job is to play football and win football matches. The chairman pays us well to do that. All of us want to ply are trade in the Premier League rather than the Championship – that is the biggest incentive we can get.”

Nevland, who was brought to the club by 60-year-old Hodgson, is quick to praise his manager, a “calm and quiet influence”. He added: “He has been in the game a long time and knows what is necessary.

“He says that we have a quality group of players and always had the belief that we can go on and do miracles like we have done in the last few weeks. The whole of the club have kept the faith.

“There is still a lot of work to do to fulfill the escape. But a few months ago, a few weeks ago it looked really bad. Despite that we never lost faith and we always thought that it would be possible.

“That is showing now – it is the last game and we are out of the bottom three. Who would have thought that a few weeks ago?

“I would much rather be in our position than Birmingham’s or Reading’s because we have it in your own hands. But it is going to be nerve-wracking.”

Labels: Erik Nevland, Fulham, Portsmouth, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:50 pm | Permalink | Comments

HODGSON PRAYING TO FOOTBALL GODS FOR SURVIVAL

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is praying that after a season of twists and turns the football gods will continue to smile on them as they attempt, Houdini-like, to escape relegation.

Last Saturday Hodgson’s team moved out of the bottom three for the first time since Boxing Day and know that a win against FA Cup finalists Portsmouth on Sunday will be enough to keep them in the Premier League.

When the former Blackburn boss took over as manager of the club in early January after Lawrie Sanchez was sacked, his sole job was to help Fulham survive the drop.

Unaided by injuries, he won only six points from his first nine games. But then came victory over Everton followed by an away win over fellow strugglers Reading – the club’s first on the road for 18 months.

He now thinks, after three wins in the last four games, his team believes they can avoid relegation.

Hodgson said: “We've been dead and buried. We were in a dire situation and we have been a very difficult situation for a long time.

“But it's nice now to have a chance to still be fighting in the final game. It's a tough task at Fratton Park, we know that.

“But we must be happy to have the possibility because a couple of weeks ago it didn't look like we had that chance.

“We'll be devastated if we lose. All of us here have wanted to keep Fulham in the Premier League. It's been our dream.

“It looked for quite a long time that it would be something we'd have to forego and come to terms with the reality of the Championship.

“All of a sudden we've had a reprieve and if we win our last game maybe we won't be relegated.

“We have to do our best and hope the football gods smile upon us.”

Labels: Fulham, Portsmouth, Premier League, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:37 pm | Permalink | Comments

PORTUGAL SQUAD FOR EURO 2008 IN AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND

Road to Austria and Switzerland 2008:

Though Portugal lost just one game in qualifying Group A, the only section with eight teams, they had to endure a nervous finale before clinching their place in the finals as runners-up to Poland, who finished with 28 points to Portugal’s 27.

After clinging on for a 1-1 draw with Finland with ten men in their opening game, Portugal won 3-0 against Azerbaijan but then lost 2-1 in Poland. Progress was patchy thereafter, despite winger Cristiano Ronaldo contributing eight goals.

Portugal dropped some unexpected points, drawing 1-1 home and away against Serbia, 2-2 at home against Poland and – most surprisingly – 1-1 away against Armenia.

An incident following the 1-1 home draw with Serbia led coach Luiz Felipe Scolari to be banned from the touchline for three games, but Portugal won all three matches with his assistant Flávio Teixeira in charge, meaning they needed only to avoid defeat in their final game against Finland in Porto to progress.

With Roy Hodgson’s Finland knowing a win would likely see them qualify in Portugal's place, it was a tense affair, but a 0-0 draw sufficed for the home side. However Scolari admitted: "I know we have to improve for the finals."

Going into the tournament in Austria and Switzerland, Portugal had played 108 matches in their 13 participations in the European Championships (qualifying for only five), winning 58, drawing 26 and losing 24 with 183 goals scored and 98 conceded.

They first qualified for the European Championships in 1984, when they were knocked out in the semi-finals. Portugal next qualified for Euro 1996 in England, and were eliminated at the quarter-final stage. In 2000 they again made the semis before coming closest to wining the trophy last time round. As the host nation for Euro 2004, Portugal advanced to the final, but lost to Greece, who had also defeated them in the tournament’s opening game, 2-1.

Coach:
Luiz Felipe Scolari

The charismatic Brazilian – a ruthless defender in his playing days, though did not gain international honours – has been in charge of Portugal since 2003, and taken his team to a European Championship final and a World Cup semi-final. They were defeated 2-1 by Greece at Euro 2004, which they hosted, and lost out to France 1-0 at Germany two summers later.

Before his Portugal appointment, 59-year-old Scolari took his native Brazil to their record fifth World Cup title in 2002. His five years in charge of Portugal are by far the longest he has had in any one job in a nomadic career. The supposed Nottingham Forest fan has taken charge of 19 different teams in the 26 years he has been actively coaching, including stints in the Middle East and Asia.

After Germany 2006 the last of the so-called ‘golden generation’ – Rui Costa, Luis Figo and Sérgio Conceição – retired, prompting Scolari to blood a number of youngsters on the road to Austria and Switzerland. And having lost only one game in 14, expect the Brazilian to work his motivational magic again.


Goalkeepers:
Daniel Fernandes
The Canadian-born goalkeeper, now No1 at PAOK Thessaloniki after five years in Greece, is expected to be Portugal’s No3 in Austria and Switzerland. The 24-year-old Moved from Vancouver Metro to FC Porto and has also featured for Bavarian side Jahn Regensburg and Celta Vigo in Spain.

Quim
Long-time national understudy first to Vítor Baía and now Ricardo Pereira, Benfica’s Quim missed out on the 2002 World Cup due to a failed drugs test. The 32-year-old spent a decade at FC Braga before moving to Benfica in 2004. Since making his Portuguese bow in 1999 he has played 24 other times.

Ricardo Pereira
Famous for his heroics in penalty shootouts, Portugal’s No1 was an ever present figure in the qualifiers. Real Betis’ Ricardo, 32, knocked England out of Euro 2004 by first saving Darius Vassell’s spot kick then scoring one himself. After taking over from Vítor Baía, the former Boavista and Sporting ‘keeper has over 70 caps to his name.

Defenders:
Jorge Andrade
The highly-rated centre-back has missed most of the 2007/8 season after tearing a ligament, and missed eight of Portugal’s qualifiers. Before moving to Juventus last summer the classy defender enjoyed five seasons in La Liga with Deportivo de La Coruña. Like team-mates Nani and Miguel, Andrade, 30, is of Cape Verde descent.

José Bosingwa
Porto’s right-back since 2003, Bosingwa is known for his tireless stamina and pace. The 25-year-old was an Under-21 regular though he has found it hard to supplant Chelsea’s Paulo Ferreira. Bosingwa was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been linked with a host of top European clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United.

Bruno Alves
The tall, commanding centre-back has been a fixture in the Porto starting XI since he signed from AEK Athens in 2005. Alves, 26, made his full international debut in June 2007 against Kuwait. He played in seven of Portugal’s qualifiers and scored against Azerbaijan in last October’s 2-0 away win.

Marco Caneira
A versatile defender, Caneira is at most ease as a left-back. The 29-year-old signed for Valencia in 2003 and has played over 40 times for the Spanish club, though he spent 2006/7 on loan back at his first club, Sporting Club de Portugal. As well as playing in Spain and Portugal, Caneira has also plied his trade in France and Italy.

Ricardo Carvalho
The classy centre-back was named defender of the tournament when Porto, guided by Jose Mourinho, won the 2003/4 Champions League. An imperious Euro 2004 was next before Carvalho followed his manager to Chelsea that summer for £20m and has been a mainstay since. The 30-year-old is viewed as a worthy successor to legend Fernando Couto.

Fernando Meira
The 30-year-old made his Portugal debut in 2000 but, after missing out on making the 2006 World Cup squad, earned a recall under Scolari. Meira has played centre-back for German club Stuttgart since 2002, and even captained them to the Bundesliga trophy in 2006/7. Played in seven of Portugal’s qualifiers.

Miguel
Valencia’s utility defender Miguel is rated highly by Scolari, and featured in 10 of the qualifying games. Miguel played over 100 games for Benfica before moving to Spain in 2005. Born in Lisbon, Miguel, 28, first played for his country in February 2003 against Italy. He signed a new five-year deal at Valencia last December.

Paulo Ferreira
The Chelsea right-back found a starting place hard to come by in the last season at club level, and faces similar problems in the Portugal team, with Miguel his chief competition. Ferreira, 29, amassed 27 U-21 caps before making his full international debut in 2002. He has over 40 caps, and played eight full games in the qualifying campaign.

Pepe
Brazilian-born Pepe, 25, spent three years at Porto before moving to Real Madrid for €30m in June 2007. In his first season, en route to the La Liga title, the classy, tall centre-back earned a handful of man-of-the-match awards, including in the 1-0 away win against Barcelona. Only made his Portugal debut in November 2007 against Finland (0-0), but should be the future of his adoptive country’s defence.

Jorge Ribeiro
The younger brother of midfielder Maniche, Ribeiro is Boavista’s right-back and will only be used as a back up by Scolari at Euro 2008. The 26-year-old made his international debut back in 2002 but has only eight caps to his name. The Benfica trainee has experience of the Russian and Spanish leagues.


Midfielders:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Still only 23, Ronaldo has been the focal point for Portugal since he made his debut against Kazakhstan in August 2003, having, a month earlier, taken over David Beckham’s No7 shirt at Manchester United. Having honed his breath-taking skills, Ronaldo is one of the most dangerous attackers in world football and has the accolades to prove it. Top-scored for Portugal with eight goals in qualifying.

Deco
The naturalised Brazilian, born in São Paulo, did not gain as much playing time as he would have liked at Barcelona this season, but played 10 times in Portugal’s Euro 2008 qualifiers. The 30-year-old scheming playmaker joined the Catalan club in 2004 and made his Portugal bow in March 2003 against his home county, Brazil.

Manuel Fernandes
Defensive midfielder Fernandes, 22, moved to Valencia from first club Benfica for £17m last summer, though he was loaned out to Everton from January. Born in a Lisbon suburb, Fernandes used to kick about in the streets with fellow international Nani. Featured for only 30 minutes in the qualifiers.

Maniche
The central midfielder earned his moniker from Benfica's 1980s legendary Danish forward Michael Manniche, and started out as a winger at Benfica. The 30-year-old has featured for Serie A winners Inter Milan this season, having been loaned out by Atletico Madrid. Played in eight qualifiers and has over 40 Portugal caps to his name.

João Moutinho
Moutinho has been touted as the natural successor to Rui Costa’s – Portugal’s attacking midfield star of the 1990s and early 2000s. The 21-year-old joined his club, Sporting, when 13, and is now captain. He played in six Euro 2008 qualifiers and has been linked to Manchester United, such is his promise.

Nani
The tricky winger moved from Sporting to Manchester United for £17m last summer, and has impressed with a handful of scorching goals. Born in Cape Verde, Nani, 21, played two seasons in Lisbon for Sporting and made his international debut against Denmark in September 2006, a game in which he scored. Played nine games in the qualifiers.

Petit
Combative and clever, Petit has been an important part of the Portugal midfield since he made his debut in 2001. The 31-year-old was born in France, though he has never played his club football outside Portugal – he has starred for Gil Vicente, Boavista, and, since 2002, Benfica. Also known for his direct free-kicks.

Ricardo Quaresma
The coveted 24-year-old forward, who can play on the left, right or more centrally, has been on the books of Porto since moving from Barcelona in 2004. Quaresma came up through the youth ranks at Sporting and has great pace and dribbling speed, though he missed out on Germany 2006. Played in all but three qualifiers for Portugal.

Raúl Meireles
Porto’s central midfielder Meireles is known for his clever passing and his long-range shooting, and played in five of Portugal’s Euro 2008 qualifiers. The 25-year-old was a member of the 2004 Under-21 team who came third in the European Championships. He has previously played for CD Aves and Boavista.

Simão
Winger or forward Simão moved to Atlético Madrid in July 2007 for €20m from Benfica, where he was captain. The 28-year-old started out at Sporting before moving to Barcelona, where he spent two years and played 46 times. Simão scored three goals from eight games in qualifying. He made his international bow in November 1998 when he scored against Israel.

Tiago
Central midfielder played last season for Juventus, and has had stints with Benfica, Chelsea and Lyon, collecting seven domestic trophies along the way. Tiago, 27, played eight qualifying games and made his Portugal debut in 2002. He featured in five games at Germany 2006, and didn’t score his first international goal until March 2007.

Miguel Veloso
The 22-year-old began his career as a centre-back but is now more accustomed to a defensive midfield role. Veloso has been at Sporting since he was 14, and moved from rivals Benfica – the club where his father was a defender. He played in four games on Portugal’s route to Euro 2008 and many top European club have been monitoring his progress.

Forwards:
Hugo Almeida
The pacey and powerful Almeida has been playing in the German Bundesliga with Werder Bremen for the past two seasons with much success. The 24-year-old netted twice in four Euro 2008 qualifiers. The 6’3” striker was on the books of Porto for four years and won the Superliga in 2006.

Luís Boa Morte
The 30-year-old forward is the only member of the squad who has never played in Portugal. Boa Morte, who is most effective on the wing, started his career at Arsenal in 1997. He has played at Southampton, Fulham and West Ham United – where he played in 2007/8 – since. He made his international debut in 2001 but did not feature in any qualifying games.

Nuno Gomes
Prolific striker Gomes began his career in 1994 with Braga before moving in 1997 to Benfica, where he spent three seasons and scored 60 goals. Two years in Italy with Fiorentina followed before returning to Benfica. After the retirement of Pauleta, Gomes, 31, will lead the line for Portugal. Scored three goals in 10 qualifying matches.

Hélder Postiga
The striker, 25, was once the great hope of Portuguese football after winning a league and cup double as well as the Uefa Cup in Jose Mourinho’s Porto team. An £8m transfer to Tottenham followed in 2003, though Postiga failed to impress and moved back to Porto. Scored against England in Euro 2004 to take the quarter-final to penalties.

Ariza Makukula
Born in Zaire, the tall forward is chiefly used by Scolari as a substitute. In this role he scored one goal in three qualifying matches. Makulkula, 27, has played for nine different clubs, and has tasted life in Spain and France. Was on the books of Benfica last season, though he seldom featured.

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