Zidane is ready to help Algeria scupper England''s World Cup hopes
Former French football star Zinedine Zidane has said that he is ready to help England's Group C opponents Algeria at the World Cup.
The former France star, whose parents both come from the North African country, was sent off in disgrace in the 2006 final in Berlin.
But now the 1998 World Cup winner, 37, wants to see the Desert Foxes get past the group stage in Africa's first World Cup next summer.
When asked by France Football if he would lend his experience to Algerian head coach Rabah Saadane in the build-up to South Africa, The MIrror quoted Zidane, as saying: "Maybe it has already been done.
"There are things that I want to do about which I don't want to speak publicly. That stays between me and those involved, the players, some of whom I already know. That doesn't mean either that I will do something with them. It is my own business," he added.
"I am very happy (they will go to the World Cup). The Algerians really deserved their qualification. I have not seen Algeria play in this style for a long time. Now, it is all a bonus. They can goto South Africa without pressure," he said.
Reports of Yousuf calling Younis Khan false
Sources close to former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan have rejected reports that incumbent skipper Mohammad Yousuf had called Khan to discuss his return to the national team for the Australia series.
According to reports, there has been no such conversation between Yousuf and Khan in the recent past.
“The reports in the press were false and baseless. The story is totally incorrect and I don''t understand why the story was printed because no discussions have taken place between the two of them,” Pakpassion. net quoted sources, as saying.
Earlier, Pakistani media flashed reports about Yousuf calling Khan to discuss his future plans and his availability for the forthcoming three match Test series in Australia.Reports of Yousuf calling Younis Khan false
Sources close to former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan have rejected reports that incumbent skipper Mohammad Yousuf had called Khan to discuss his return to the national team for the Australia series.
According to reports, there has been no such conversation between Yousuf and Khan in the recent past.
“The reports in the press were false and baseless. The story is totally incorrect and I don''t understand why the story was printed because no discussions have taken place between the two of them,” Pakpassion. net quoted sources, as saying.
Earlier, Pakistani media flashed reports about Yousuf calling Khan to discuss his future plans and his availability for the forthcoming three match Test series in Australia.Drogba doesn't leave Chelsea
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has insisted he has no plans of leaving Chelsea.
The 31-year-old star, who has hit 18 goals this season, was quoted by The Sun as saying: "I can promise the fans I am not going to leave the club in the winter.
"You will see, in January there will be a lot of rumours that Drogba is in talks with Inter or Barcelona. I am used to it. Only once have I admitted I wanted to leave Chelsea. It was more than two years ago after Jose Mourinho was sacked," he told.Manchester City''s new boss thinks Robinho make history
Manchester City’s new manager Roberto Mancini reckons that Robinho is worth his 32.5-million-pound price tag, albeit his failure to deliver for former manager Mark Hughes.
“I think that Robinho can make history. I played for Sampdoria for 15 years and I made history, I wrote history, and I think that Robinho can stay here and write himself into the history of Manchester City,” The Telegraph quoted Mancini, as saying.
“Robinho is a fantastic player, but I have five or six who play in attack and who are very good. We can play in different formations. I always played to attack and for me, that''s most important,” he added.
Since his arrival from Real Madrid in Sept 2008, the Brazilian forward has proved to be a major disappointment at Eastlands.
Robinho''s inability to justify his lofty reputation has been singled out as a key factor in Hughes''s dismissal by Sheikh Mansour last Saturday.
Robinho is set to stay at Manchester City during the transfer window following Barcelona''s admission that the player is no longer on their wanted list.
With Stoke City due at Eastlands on Boxing Day, Mancini admits that plugging the defensive leaks is priority.
"To win games you have to defend well. It is most important that the squad stop conceding goals. The players can look forward to plenty of hard work and to improving their concentration levels. We have the players to be successful,” Mancini said.
"You cannot win games without scoring goals, and my teams in Italy never played for 0-0 draws, but it is important to defend well too,” he added.Vettori to play twentyt20 for Queensland
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will join Queensland as a guest player in the Twenty20 Big Bash tournament beginning next week.
Left-arm spinner Vettori has agreed to a two-match stint with the Bulls as their overseas player and will make his Queensland debut in the January 13 clash with NSW at ANZ Stadium.
He is also available for the preliminary final should Queensland finish second or third and could play in the 12.5 million dollar Champions League tournament in India should the Bulls qualify by finishing in the top two of the Big Bash.
"We all know his bowling is world class, but every bit of feedback we have received about him highlights that he is a fine leader of men who has a fantastic cricket brain and a calm and professional on-field presence," Queensland coach Trevor Barsby said.
"It might only be a short stint but we are confident there will be long-term benefits from him being a part of our squad during the Big Bash."
"It''s also a nice boost for Chris Simpson, who is developing into a fine captain.
"I''m sure he will enjoy the experience of having Dan around and soak up some of his knowledge."
Flintoff on course to be back for training after medical check-up
Flintoff, who is recovering from ankle surgery, has been given the green light to start batting again as soon as he has polished off his last turkey sandwich - but bowling is still some way off, The Mirror reports.
"I''m looking forward to starting cricket exercises again, hopefully early in the New Year. As long as I don''t have any setbacks, I should be able to bat against a bowling machine. It will be good just to start playing some form of cricket again after all this time. It will be great to start hitting balls again. When all you do is go to the gym every day, you can almost forget that you''re a cricketer," Flintoff said.
"The one thing I''ve been thinking about is how I''m going to approach batting once I do start playing again. Now I''m only playing the short form of the game, I should have the opportunity to tailor my game towards that," he said.
Sri Lanka see opportunity in India's injuries
he 2-1 scoreline is not unexpected given the way India have pushed Sri Lanka to the brink in all but one game - a Twenty20 - played in the limited-overs leg of the tour. But now, with the home team missing two match-winners, a hurting Sri Lanka have a realistic chance of leveling the series.
This will be the first time since MS Dhoni's debut in 2004 that India play an ODI without him and Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni has often said that missing Yuvraj is a big blow, so how India cope with the loss of their captain and best batsman in ODIs in addition to Yuvraj will be crucial.
The tour has seen so many players succumbing to injuries it's a surprise the rest have managed to get so far. Sri Lanka have lost the services of Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando and Angelo Mathews. Nuwan Kulasekara missed the Tests but returned for the shorter versions. Yuvraj had a recurrence of his finger injury and has been indefinitely ruled out. Sreesanth is yet to feature after getting the flu, while Lasith Malinga overcame it in time for the last game. Thankfully, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virender Sehwag overcame minor scares.
But there is always fear - especially among bowlers - of another injury around the corner. Three of them have shouldered the burden of carrying their respective attacks: for the hosts, the experienced duo of Harbhajan Singh (187.2 overs bowled so far) and comeback man Zaheer Khan (131) are in need of breaks. On the other hand, Sri Lanka thrust the rookie Chanaka Welegedara (126 overs) into the forefront on his first major series and he will be longing for a breather at the business end of a testing tour. This is the start of another busy season for India and there isn't much time to think ahead. Wrapping up the series in Kolkata will allow India to rest weary players ahead of the Bangladesh tour starting January 4. Sri Lanka also feature in the tri-series that kicks off that tour but, needing to win both their remaining matches in India, cannot afford the luxury of rotation.
Shane Bond announced retirement from Test cricket
Bond, 34, revived his international career earlier this year after quitting the unofficial Indian Cricket League. He made a comeback to the limited-overs side during the tour of Sri Lanka, before working his way back to the Test squad. Following a match-winning performance in the first Test against Pakistan in Dunedin, he was forced to withdraw from the two remaining games after tearing an abdominal muscle. The injury setback - the latest in a career punctuated by back, feet and soft tissue problems - left him disappointed, prompting him to reassess his future as a Test player.
"The hardest thing is that I've always considered myself a Test bowler - and it was such a great feeling to be back in the team last month and playing Test match cricket with the Blackcaps," Bond said.
"I've worked really hard to get back to Test match fitness - it's what I've been working towards for the past two years - and I feel I gave as much as I could. But looking back, so many of my injuries have come during Test cricket. Unfortunately my body just won't let me continue to play at that level, given the workload and demands of Test cricket.
"I don't want to end on an injury and I am absolutely committed to playing for the Blackcaps. This way I hope I've got a better chance of continuing to play. I hope I'll be able to continue to contribute to the team and to New Zealand cricket fans for a while yet.
"It's been a tough call, because Test cricket remains the ultimate form of the game - but I'm comfortable I've made the right choice."
Ntini has certained to play at Durban
South Africa captain Graeme Smith has assured Makhaya Ntini of his starting place in the second Test against England at Durban even if Dale Steyn recovers from his hamstring injury. Ntini's poor return of two wickets in his 100th match at Centurion, coupled with Friedel de Wet's impressive debut, started a debate about who would drop out should Steyn be fit.
It means South Africa are spared making a difficult decision over Ntini's position, whose place in the side is important for political as well as cricket reasons. Smith said that de Wet, despite taking 4 for 55 in the second innings of the first Test, including a spell of 3 for 11 with the second new ball, would be the man to step aside for Steyn.
Smith gave Ntini the final over in the first Test, despite de Wet having caused mayhem, and Graham Onions managed to block six deliveries to save the Test. Ntini, though, has the complete backing of his captain.
Galloway is added by Steelers
Wide receiver Joey Galloway has been added to the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster as the replacement for Limas Sweed.Sweed was placed on injured reserve Monday with a non-football-related illness. Coach Mike Tomlin would not reveal any details of Sweed's condition Tuesday.
"I think it's appropriate right now that we say very little in regard to his personal issues," Tomlin said. "He has our full support. Anything else I say will be in regards to protecting his privacy."
Galloway was cut by the New England Patriots earlier this season after catching seven passes for 67 yards. The former Ohio State receiver has 689 catches for a 15.6 average during an NFL career that began in 1995, but he hasn't had a TD catch since making six for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.
Pittsburgh was interested in signing Galloway during the offseason, but he chose New England instead. Galloway, 38, grew up in Bellaire, Ohio, which is 60 miles from Pittsburgh.
The Steelers also signed long snapper Jared Retkofsky to replace Greg Warren, who injured a right knee ligament on the final play of Pittsburgh's win over the Green Bay Packers. Retkofsky was the Steelers' long snapper for the final two months and the playoffs last season after Warren tore a knee ligament.
Retkofsky had been playing for the New York Sentinels of the United Football League.
Saints cut veteran kicker Carney
The New Orleans Saints apparently won't carry two kickers into the playoffs, as they've done for much of this year. The team announced Tuesday afternoon it has cut veteran kicker John Carney.hat's a sign the Saints are committed to sticking with Garrett Hartley, who reclaimed the kicking job for the 12th game of the season. Hartley had been suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL's policy by taking a stimulant that he said was to keep him awake during a long drive.
Carney, 45 and a 21-year NFL veteran, was signed by the Saints when they became aware of Hartley's suspension. Carney handled kicking duties in the first 11 games. He made 13 of 17 field goals and 50 of 52 extra points. Carney also played with the Saints from 2001 through 2006 and is the second-leading scorer in franchise history with 750 points.
The Saints also signed fullback Kyle Eckel, who was with the team earlier this season, and safety Herana-Daze Jones. Eckel played in five games for the Saints earlier this year and was used primarily as a blocker and on special teams. Jones had previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos.
Jones likes McBriar; Phillips likes Romo
Tony Romo's days as the Dallas Cowboys holder aren't done.
Coach Wade Phillips said Romo will remain in that role with new kicker Shaun Suisham.
"Romo's the best holder right now and we have a new kicker," Phillips said late Tuesday afternoon. "Since we have a new kicker, I want everything to be as good as it can be."
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones suggested on KRLD-FM on Tuesday that this might be a good time for Mat McBriar to resume holding. However, Phillips said the Cowboys wanted to make the transition to Suisham as smooth as possible.
"This is a good time to start over there," Jones said. "If we started over, it's obviously more ideal to have that punter holding."
Romo has stated that he doesn't want to hold, but he volunteered for the job two weeks ago after recently released kicker Nick Folk was blaming some of his problems on McBriar's holds.
Tim MacMahon covers the Cowboys for ESPN Dallas. You can follow him on Twitter or leave a question for his weekly mailbag.
Vick recipient of Block Courage Award
Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, who joined the Eagles this season after serving 18 months in federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring, has been named recipient of the team's Ed Block Courage Award.
Given annually, the award honors NFL players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected in a vote by their teammates for team effort as well as individual performance.
Vick was signed to a $1.6 million contract by the Eagles during the preseason, with a team option for next year worth $5.2 million. He was granted full reinstatement to the league on Sept. 3 by commissioner Roger Goodell, who allowed him to return to the field in Week 3.
In 12 games, Vick has completed 6 of 13 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown this season and has also rushed 24 times for 95 yards and two scores. All three of Vick's touchdowns have come in the last three games.
Vick was given a prison sentence in December 2007 of up to 23 months, receiving a harsher sentence than his co-defendants in the federal conspiracy case because he gave "less than truthful" statements about killing pit bulls. He completed the sentence under house arrest.
He also has drawn the ire of animal rights groups and several formed protests outside NFL stadiums this season. The public will get an inside look at his life during an eight-part television series, described as part reality TV/part documentary, scheduled to debut on BET next year.
Vick, along with one player from each of the other 31 NFL teams, will be honored at the Ed Block Courage Award Banquet in March in Baltimore.
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