.:: 0723 aRtIcLeS ::.

2004-10-21T18:36:00.000+08:00

Arsenal ready to re-open Utd wounds

LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Leaders Arsenal return to the scene of last season's most controversial game on Sunday, tackling arch-rivals Manchester United in their search for a 50th successive Premier League match without defeat.

The Londoners were only seven matches into that record-breaking run when they travelled to Old Trafford last September.

An incendiary 90 minutes ended with Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira sent off and United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy the focus of a baying mob of Arsenal players. Four were subsequently banned. Rivalry between England's top two clubs has been intense ever since Arsene Wenger arrived at Highbury in 1996 and began building Arsenal into serious opponents for Alex Ferguson's all-conquering United.

Off the pitch, Ferguson and Wenger are like chalk and cheese, with the fiery Scot from Glasgow cutting a sharp contrast with an urbane, trilingual Frenchman who holds a university degree in economics.

Relations were not helped when Arsenal wrested United's league title from them with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in May 2002. Ferguson's men responded by snatching it back the following season with a barnstorming finish.

Constant sniping between the sides and their coaches built to a climax last September when the post-match melee led to the four Arsenal players being banned, their club getting fined 175,000pounds and their manager facing a wave of criticism for his team's poor disciplinary record.

Ironically, for all the damage done, the 0-0 draw proved to be the turning point in Arsenal's title-winning season.

Van Nistelrooy's missed spot-kick kept Arsenal on a record unbeaten run which will reach 50 if they avoid defeat on Sunday.

The ugly scenes also forced Arsenal into a long-overdue look at their behaviour on the pitch.

Wenger's team have picked up only one red card in the Premier League since - Ashley Cole's dismissal against Leicester City in December being the only blemish.

'I feel it was the turning-point,' Wenger told reporters in March as his team cantered towards the title. 'With them missing the penalty in the last minute, us not losing and then having to deal with all the incidents.

'We dealt well with the situation. We came out and said we were sorry and it's not how we want to behave. And since that, we've focused purely on football.

'You have to choose - are you focused on fighting or on football?'

United got their revenge for what smacked of a defeat by knocking holders Arsenal out of the FA Cup semi-finals the following April and going on to triumph in Cardiff.

Victory for Ferguson also denied Arsenal a golden opportunity - against second division Millwall - to make history by becoming the first club in over a century to lift the trophy three years on the trot.

Ferguson has already begun winding up his men for Sunday's battle with the league leaders, describing it as a 'must-win' game within minutes of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Birmingham City.
He was then quoted as telling Sunday's Observer newspaper that Arsenal 'got away with murder' in last season's fixture.

'The disciplinary treatment was ridiculous when you think that Eric Cantona got nine months for attacking a supporter,' he added, referring to the former United forward's assault in 1995.

Central defender Rio Ferdinand and skipper Roy Keane were spared Tuesday's Champions League game at Sparta Prague, due to family bereavement and influenza respectively.

With a struggling United already 11 points adrift of their opponents after nine games, Ferguson clearly wants all his key men fit for a game they can ill-afford to lose.

'Showing great desire will be important next week,' the Scot said. On past evidence, he is unlikely to be disappointed.

2004-10-21T18:34:00.000+08:00

'Real will qualify from group' - Coach

MADRID, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Real Madrid believe they will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League after recording their second win in a row with an edgy 1-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev.

The nine-times European champions, who bounced back from a 3-0 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen with a memorable 4-2 comeback win over AS Roma last month, claimed victory over the group leaders thanks to a well taken strike from Michael Owen on Tuesday.

The England forward notched his first goal since joining the club from Liverpool for 12 million euros ($15.10 million) in August when he turned in a low cross from Ronaldo 10 minutes before halftime.

'I think Dynamo are the strongest of all the teams we have played but I am sure we will keep on improving,' coach Mariano Garcia Remon said.

'We will end up qualifying from what is a very difficult group, but we will have to fight until the very end because all three sides have the same chance of making it through.'

The result means that Dynamo, Real and Leverkusen, who came from a goal down to beat Roma 3-1 at home, all have six points at the top of Group B.

'We have achieved our aim of winning our two home games following our defeat in Leverkusen,' Real's sporting director Emilio Butragueno said. 'But we now have to make sure we win in Ukraine if at all possible.

'We know that will be very difficult because they are a great team. They are a courageous, daring, quick and dangerous side.'

Real face the Ukraine champions again on November 3.

Owen said scoring his first goal in seven appearances for the Spanish club had taken a weight off his shoulders.

'It settled me right down,' he said. 'I have been waiting for that moment since I came here. The one thing I have been lacking was a goal and it was a relief to get off the mark.

'The club president (Florentino Perez) came into the dressing room at the end of the game, shook my hand and said 'let that be the first of many''.

2004-10-21T18:33:00.000+08:00

Owen thrilled by first Real Madrid goal

Michael Owen spoke with bravado about his future in Spain after breaking his Real Madrid duck with the sort of poacher's goal for which he has become renowned.

His first-half strike earned Madrid a 1-0 win against Dynamo Kiev in Champions League group B, improving the Spaniards' chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages.

Since his summer move from Liverpool, England striker Owen has found it difficult to nail down a regular place in the Madrid line-up, and it has also been a struggle to settle in the Spanish capital.

But Owen believes his first goal, a close-range prod following a left-wing cross by Ronaldo, will have a tremendous impact on his career at the Bernabeu.

'This was a massive game, so to score the winner in front of your home fans in a Champions League match was a great feeling,' said Owen.

'I just wish the timing could have been a bit better, in that maybe I could have scored it a little sooner.

'I think we were all a little edgy at first tonight but scoring settled me right down. It's what I have been waiting for since I came here.

'I have put in some good performances, and some okay performances since I arrived here, so it was important for me to score a goal because that is an important part of my game. It is just a relief to get off the mark.'

He was substituted in the second half, but Owen's contribution had been vital.

'Things are slowly getting better and better for me now,' he stressed.

'It is not easy living in a hotel room all the time, but I think everything is starting to some together.'

Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Ramon opted for an unusual line-up, with strikers Raul, Ronaldo and Owen all in the starting line-up.

But having played and starred alongside Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe in a three-pronged England attack during recent World Cup qualifiers, Owen declared that he did not mind who he had to play alongside.

'I don't care where I play - as long as I play,' Owen continued.

'It was an attacking line-up today with Raul moving out wide on the left.

'I was asked to work the flanks, while Ronaldo likes to work in and around the box taking men on.

'Funnily enough it was the opposite way round for the goal.

'He [Ronaldo] did great out on the left and put in a cracking ball.

'I just managed to stay on the blind side of the defender long enough to nip in front of him and score.

'Of course, I ran straight to him to congratulate him because he did so well.'

2004-10-13T23:21:00.000+08:00

Owen still faces Raul battle - Guti

Michael Owen has been warned he still has his work cut out to secure a first-team place at Real Madrid following his impressive display for England against Wales.

Madrid midfielder Guti denied Owen's new team-mates in Spain have turned their backs on the England striker following his disappointing form since his switch from Liverpool.

Guti claimed such behaviour 'would show a lack of respect' but added that Owen faces a real battle to replace Raul in the Madrid team.

'Although he is a great player and he will score goals, Owen still has to do a lot before he puts Raul on the bench,' he said.

'He has come to fill a complicated role.

'His position is filled by the best player in the world: Raul, who is having a great season and who is the image and the soul of the club.'

Guti insists the Madrid squad are in full support of their summer additions from England as they struggle to make an impact on the Continent.

Jonathan Woodgate has returned to Madrid after a trip to the United States for expert advice on how to treat his torn thigh muscle. Although he will have to wait at least another 10 weeks to make his Real debut, he will not require an operation.

Last Thursday, the former Newcastle defender was days away from returning to action when he suffered a recurrence of the troublesome injury, which has kept him sidelined since April.

Guti added: 'We were all upset by the injury.

'He has had really bad luck because he was working very well. But we are all certain he is going to recover soon and he will be able to give a lot to the team.'

With another England international, David Beckham, out for three to four weeks with the rib injury he sustained against Wales, Guti looks certain to deputise in a central midfield role against Real Betis on Saturday and probably against Dynamo Kiev next week in the Champions League.

2004-10-13T23:12:00.000+08:00

Time for a new leader

John Brewin

England v Azerbaijan - another game for the national side totally overshadowed by David Beckham. This is, of course, a not uncommon phenomena. Memories of the build up to the World Cup of 2002 seem ever linked to the word 'metatarsal'. But at least at the end of all that particular hoo-ha, Beckham actually played a part in England's campaign.

This week's furore has surrounded the circumstances of the England captain missing the arduous trip to the furthest flung corner of the former Soviet bloc. It was a game he would have missed anyway after damaging ribs in a clash with Ben Thatcher in the 2-0 Saturday stroll over Wales at Old Trafford. And there should have ended the story.

But here Beckham's overwhelming self awareness and, for want of a less overused word, petulatance comes into play. Beckham, having already been treated by physio Gary Lewin, and with Owen Hargreaves waiting to replace him, charged Thatcher once more with clear intent and was handed a booking by the Norwegian referee, Terje Hauge.

It was a mindless incident which did much to scar the positive afternoon it had been for Beckham - he had played very well indeed in the second half and scored his first England goal in open play for over two years, a perfect dipping slide-rule chip into the top right-hand corner of the Welsh goal.

A positive side-effect from an England perspective was that Beckham's stupidity had the effect of wiping clean the skipper's disciplinary slate for next year's double-header with Northern Ireland. Time then to put it to rest and forget about it.

But here the Beckham circus rolled into town. Though this time its juggling act was balancing Beckham's great goal and improved performance against a display of hotheadedness unbecoming of a national captain and, in one Sunday paper, a report of alleged infidelity with a beauty therapist.

So front and back pages it was. Again. Denials of the affair, threats of legal action and damning exposes of the beauty therapist have followed in predictable fashion.

The following day, a number columnists decried Beckham's running battle with Thatcher. All of which, it seems, annoyed Beckham and, in response, he chose to claim that the second clash with Thatcher was a 'deliberate' action to win a second yellow, saying: 'I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains.'

But it seems 'the brains' were not there to keep his mouth shut and risk disciplinary action for bringing the game into disrepute by lifting the lid on an underhand practice of gamesmanship.
Two years ago, former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane received an additional nine-match ban for admitting malice and intent in a foul that had already seen him banned for three games.

And though Beckham's folly was nowhere near the outrage that Keane perpetrated, the 29-year-old's profile could yet mean that action is taken against him by a governing body. The dread presence of Sepp Blatter is circling already and he may yet be made an example of.

Nor could 'the brains' have been fully functioning when he chose to take on Thatcher for a second time when already injured. Beckham admitted to the Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter that he 'knew straight away I had broken my ribs. I have done it before. I knew I will be out for a few weeks, so I thought, 'Let's get the yellow card out of the way'.'

Charging another player with intent when already sporting broken ribs seems foolhardy to say the least. One wonders what the hierachy at Real Madrid made of a prized asset putting his health at risk in the pursuit of playing more games for his national team. Putting the health of another professional at risk by fouling him deliberately is hardly acceptable either.

And, with yellow cards regularly handed out for far less potentially bruising infringements like time-wasting and kicking the ball away when an opponent has a free-kick, 'the brains' were hardly functioning at the level of a cunning pragmatist.

Nor could admitting to bending the rules when being England captain be said to be an intelligent move. Beckham has long made much of his status as role model - and could hardly be said to be following the examples of whiter than white knights like Billy Wright, Bobby Moore and Gary Lineker in admitting foul play.

But 'the brains' could well end up with credit for one thing; the scandal over his clash with Thatcher is now adorning tabloid front covers while the beauty therapist has receded to the inner pages. Can his latest pronouncement, for him uncharacteristically controversial, have been spouted as a means by which to direct attention away from exposes of his bedroom techniques and body grooming habits?

If there's one thing that Beckham, his wife and entourage have become good at in the last six or seven years it's playing the media. The last thing they want is another alleged Beckham bedroom conquest developing a media profile.

The last one is currently adorning British screens in a reality show. Rebecca Loos' latest front page appearance came after she had masturbated a boar on Five's 'The Farm', all of which must be highly embarrassing for the Beckhams.

Beckham's influence as a player has diminished in such a way that he has perhaps become better at the fame game than the football game.

It would have been unthinkable just three years ago that Manchester United would have cashed him in such a vital player in both merchandising and footballing terms yet Sir Alex Ferguson finally became fed up of the constant attention to Beckham's off-field affairs rather than his deeds on the pitch, which in his last season at United, were having a far less positive influence on the team's fortunes.

His storming start to his Real Madrid career has faded as the short-sightedness of the galacticos approach became clear to all and his shortcomings as a central midfielder became exposed. And for England, the talismanic figure that swept England to the Far East with that free-kick against Greece in 2001 looks to be a hero of days gone by.

Euro 2004 saw him play as pallidly as he had at the World Cup, with recovery from serious injury no longer an excuse. The explanation used by an increasingly defensive Beckham was excessive weight training and, more tellingly, that for the first time off-field matters had affected his performances.

A brave manager may well have taken the decision to hand the armband to another player to either provoke a positive reaction or even take the pressure off a struggling talent.

But Eriksson is not that manager - he operates his own galactico approach in never dropping star names - take the example of an experiment of a three-man strike force against the Welsh.

His lack of decisiveness may have paid off this time - largely thanks to the adaptability of Wayne Rooney, the young man who has superceded Beckham as the talisman - but the formation adopted seemed almost custom-made for the suffering Michael Owen while also avoiding the dropping of Jermain Defoe after his match-winning performance in Poland.

However, even Eriksson seems on the edge of addressing a point of increasing debate after promising to discuss the Thatcher affair with his captain after the return from Baku. And while considering what action he may take, there may be greater issues to consider other than an indiscreet admission of guilt.

Beckham's influence on the England dressing-room is on the wane. It was Gary Neville who was credited with lifting spirits after the heartbreak of losing to France at Euro 2004. Beckham previously inspired by being the best player - now Rooney is the man. His Saturday showing silenced the calls for Shaun Wright-Phillips for the moment but the City right-winger has youth on his side.

Rumours of resentment of preferential treatment for Beckham and his wife at England training camps are rife as are tales of undue influence on team selection.

The absence of the current captain, for either one game or the additional ban he may receive for his admission of gamesmanship, could have given Eriksson the chance to roadtest his next long term onfield leader.

Owen's candidacy should be disregarded despite his leading of the team in Azerbaijan - he should no longer be guaranteed a place and striker captains rarely succeed - a lesson that should have been learned from the failings of Alan Shearer as an inspiring figure.

That leaves four other candidates. Sol Campbell is a first-choice defender though perhaps a little quiet and Gary Neville is similarly a fixture yet his clashes with the media may create problems. Steven Gerrard has grown into an inspirational captain for his club though injuries have hindered his England career.

The fourth? None other than Rio Ferdinand, back from his ban and looking back to his imperious best for his club, and on the evidence of John Hartson's Saturday no-show, his country too.

He seems to be the dauphin to Roy Keane at Manchester United judging on the recent Champions League game with Fenerbahce in which the Londoner was given the armband ahead of regular stand-ins Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

And one man who seems to share Ferguson's opinion of Ferdinand is none other than Sven Goran Eriksson who last week said: 'I'm sure that Rio Ferdinand is a leader. He talks and that is always important.'

And maybe David Beckham would do well to heed the Swede's further comments on the subject: 'A captain must be a player who the others are prepared to listen to. If they're not, then everything is wrong. He must be a team player, not someone who always thinks about himself.'

Issue an apology as he might have done in an attempt to end the affair, Beckham cannot be said to have fulfilled his own coach's criteria for a suitable captain.

2004-10-13T23:07:00.000+08:00

Beckham out for month say Real Madrid

MADRID, Oct 13 (Reuters) - England captain David Beckham will be out of action for up to a month because of broken ribs, Real Madrid said on Wednesday.

'The player will be out for between three to four weeks,' said club doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez.

'He has two hairline fractures to his ribs which make it painful for him to walk and for him to lie down and he finds it difficult to sleep.

'For the moment all he can do is rest and in a few days he will begin specific exercises depending on the levels of pain he experiences. The injury has occurred in the most painful area for these type of fractures.'

Beckham collided with Ben Thatcher in England's 2-0 win in a World Cup qualifier against Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday.

He stayed on the pitch long enough to launch a clumsy tackle on Thatcher a few minutes later, a move he claimed was deliberately designed to earn a booking so that he could serve a one-match suspension while he was out injured.

'I could feel the injury...I knew straight away I had broken my ribs...I knew I will be out for a few weeks so I thought: 'Let's get the yellow card out of the way,' Beckham said.

As well as England's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, Beckham will miss Real's back-to-back Champions League fixtures against Dynamo Kiev and up to four league matches including the clash against Spanish champions Valencia.

2004-10-13T23:06:00.000+08:00

Becks says sorry for Yellow-card furore

David Beckham went on the retreat on Wednesday and issued a formal apology for deliberately getting booked against Wales.

Beckham admitted on Tuesday that he fouled Ben Thatcher in order to pick up his second caution of the qualifying campaign and be suspended for Wednesday night's match in Azerbaijan because he knew he would miss the game through injury.

Today, however, the England captain realised the error of his ways and has apologised to England fans, players, officials and head coach.

His statement of remorse is likely to mean he will escape any punitive action from world governing body FIFA or the Football Association.

Beckham said in a statement: 'The greatest honour in my career was when I was made England captain, there is no better feeling in football than playing for your country.

'In an interview on Tuesday I was asked a question and made a frank and honest admission to counter the negative speculation.

'I now know that was wrong and apologise to the Football Association, the England manager, my team-mates and all England fans for this.

'I have also apologised personally to my manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

'I know that as captain you are in a privileged position and must always abide by FIFA's code of fair play, something which I have always done throughout my career. On this occasion I made a mistake.

'I hope that people will now focus on the match tonight and cheer the team on, as I will be doing.'

Beckham, who volunteered the information about the booking to the Daily Telegraph and said he was 'being clever', has returned to Spain and will be out for three or four weeks with the fractured rib he picked up against Wales.

But as someone who has always prided himself on being an ambassador for football, Beckham has been aghast to find himself now portrayed as a cheat and hopes that his apology will draw a line under the incident.

His advisors believe he was stung into making the admission by some claims that he was booked deliberately to draw attention away from new allegations about his private life in a Sunday newspaper.

However, his revelation led to criticism from many quarters with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst and match official Terje Hauge all rebuking Beckham.

Blatter, who wants a report on the matter from the FA, said: 'David Beckham is an ambassador for football so he has a responsibility as he is a great player with a lot of charisma. Therefore I am very disappointed about his behaviour.'

Hurst suggested Beckham should be stripped of the captaincy and added: 'I would argue that it brings the country into disrepute.'

Hauge, the Norwegian referee tricked into booking Beckham, said: 'It is not correct to do that.

He is the captain of the England team and he is a star. Many young players look up to him. It's not good for him to think and act like that.'

Blatter later welcomed Beckham's apology but warned the England skipper could still face action.

'It makes a difference,' Blatter told the BBC.

'It will give to those who judge such an action some positive circumstances but you cannot just forget what has happened.'

2004-10-13T23:04:00.000+08:00

Blatter 'astonished' at Becks admission

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has increased the pressure on the Football Association to take disciplinary action against David Beckham for admitting he had got himself booked on purpose.

Blatter revealed that he was 'astonished' at Beckham's revelation he set out to foul Ben Thatcher at Old Trafford last Saturday to earn his second yellow card of the World Cup qualifiers.

The England captain ill-advisedly reasoned that, as he was already set to be ruled out of tonight's tie in Azerbaijan through injury, he may as well effectively wipe out his existing booking.

The FA have so far declined to comment in detail on the matter, leaving England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to address the situation after tonight's game, for which Beckham is suspended.

However, pressure is already growing on the FA to investigate a charge of bringing the game into disrepute against the England skipper.

Blatter made it clear that, without a formal complaint, FIFA would not be investigating the matter themselves.

However, he was equally adamant that, having raised the matter with FA chairman Geoff Thompson last night, he would be closely monitoring developments.

Blatter, who was on a pre-arranged visit to Baku today, told BBC News: 'I am still astonished and disappointed that such a thing has happened.

'This is a matter of the Football Association in London. I am sure they will deal with this matter with diligence.

'I will definitely be interested in how they deal with this matter but it is not up to me to say what they should do.'

He added: 'I have expressed my disappointment about this. If this is true, I would say that it is not in the line of fair play and we are in the year of fair play.

'David Beckham is an ambassador football so he has a responsibility as he is a great player with a lot of charisma. Therefore I am very disappointed about his behaviour.'

The FA are under no set obligation to take disciplinary action against Beckham, although Blatter has clearly increased the pressure on them with his personal interest in the case.

There are few precedents in such an unlikely situation, although Roy Keane was punished by the FA for having admitted in his autobiography he deliberately set out to injure Alfie Haaland.

Beckham, meanwhile, made his pre-meditated comments in a tape-recorded telephone interview - set up by his agent - with the Daily Telegraph on Monday morning.

FA head of media, Adrian Bevington, said: 'We will await Sven speaking with David before we have any further discussions on the subject. We believe we should all concentrate on this game.'

Eriksson has vowed to make a statement on the matter either tomorrow or on Friday, although reports have indicated the England skipper has already apologised to his coach.

World Cup final hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst nevertheless insisted: 'You could argue that if FIFA have seen that, they might think it's bringing the game into disrepute.

'I would argue that it brings the country into disrepute.'

Former England captain Terry Butcher, meanwhile, believes Beckham was undone by indiscipline as he finds it hard to believe the Real Madrid midfielder could have been so calculating.

'It's something that I wouldn't have done and I wouldn't have admitted that I got myself booked,' the BBC Radio Five Live pundit said.

'But I don't believe that you can deliberately get yourself booked without risking a red card.

'I've seen him get booked a few times in the past in the same sort of way. There wasn't a big gap between the incidents so I don't believe that has necessarily been the case.

'Do I believe him? Not really, no. We've seen it lots of times before when the red mist has come down and he's reacted.

'Unless you handle the ball, boot it away or show dissent, it's very hard to get booked on purpose.'

Wales boss Mark Hughes, who revealed that the Welsh FA were unlikely to make a formal complaint, seemed to back up Butcher's observations.

'It surprises me that in the reality of a game and the hurly-burly of a game that you can think that clearly. Is it that easy to be that premeditated?' he wondered.

2004-10-12T17:43:00.000+08:00

Beckham: Booking was deliberate

David Beckham has revealed he deliberately sought a yellow card against Wales on Saturday.

Two reckless clashes with Ben Thatcher earned the England skipper his second booking of the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

However, Beckham insists he was happy to pick up a one-game ban as he already knew he would be sidelined by a rib injury suffered earlier in the Old Trafford match.

'It was deliberate,' Beckham told The Daily Telegraph. 'I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains.

'I could feel the injury. So I fouled Thatcher. It was deliberate. I knew straight away I had broken my ribs. I have done it before. I knew I will be out for a few weeks, so I thought: `Let's get the yellow card out of the way.''

Beckham confirmed his hairline rib fracture will keep him out of action for over a month and the Real Madrid midfielder does not expect to figure in England's friendly against Spain on November 17.

He added: 'It's a frustrating injury because there is no treatment. I can't go running or training because it hurts too much.

'The last time I broke my ribs (at Manchester United), Alex Ferguson put me on a bike after two weeks and I couldn't do it. I couldn't breathe. There is nothing you can do apart from rest.

'I have been to see the doctor, basically to find out whether I can fly because the rib is resting on my spleen. I will fly to Madrid and see the Real doctor immediately. I heard Madrid want me training by Wednesday but that is not possible.

'If you come back too soon, you can damage it again. I am in constant pain. I have been on painkillers.

'I will be out for four to five weeks. I just want to get back playing, to get Real back up the table.

I would love to play in England's friendly against Spain but I will struggle to make it.'

2004-10-06T02:21:00.000+08:00

England to face Spain at the Bernabeu

England stars David Beckham and Michael Owen will feel at home in their next friendly international after the Football Association revealed they had agreed a date to play Spain next month.

The match will take place on November 17 in Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium, where Owen and England's former Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate joined Beckham at the start of the season.

England's last match in the Bernabeu ended in a 4-2 friendly victory in 1987 but their most recent meeting, three years ago, saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's first game in charge end in a 3-0 win in the friendly at Villa Park.

'This is a very prestigious fixture in one of the world's finest stadiums and I'm sure the players and the fans will be really looking forward to it,' Eriksson told the Football Association.

Beckham is greatly looking forward to the contest.

'That's a nice fixture to have personally,' he said in an England press conference televised by Sky Sports News.

'The team are going to go and play in the Bernabeu and for a player there's not many better places to play football.'

2004-10-06T02:18:00.000+08:00

'Upset' Owen determined to succeed at Real Madrid

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - England striker Michael Owen is upset by British media coverage of his faltering start at Real Madrid and has ruled out a quick return to Liverpool.

Owen, who has yet to score a goal after joining Real from Liverpool in August, also said in a column in Tuesday's edition of The Times that he hoped to shake off a back problem in time for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Wales.

The 24-year-old sustained the injury after making a rare start in Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by Deportivo Coruna as the Spanish giants continued to struggle and the British press questioned the wisdom of his move to Spain.

"Plenty of others are doubting me, but I know that I will succeed in Spain." he said.

"I am aware of what is being said about me in this country and it is upsetting that people are not more supportive.

"I thought we were meant to be encouraging our top players to take on the challenge of proving themselves abroad. I heard there was talk over the weekend about me coming back to Liverpool.

"Give me a chance. I have only been in Spain for six league matches. And I have never been the quitting type."

Owen, who was due for a scan on his injury on Tuesday, faces competition from Jermain Defoe to start alongside Wayne Rooney against Wales in the Group Six qualifier at Old Trafford.

"It should be a great occasion, one that I do not want to miss," Owen wrote.

"On that endless football cycle, it appears to be my turn to attract the negative headlines and I can't say that I felt happy with life when I walked out of the Bernabeu feeling sore at the weekend. But I am not going to hide."

2004-10-06T02:17:00.000+08:00

BEING ENGLAND CAPTAIN IS A DREAM COME TRUE

RUGBY UNION: WILKINSON'S NEW ERA

By Alex Spink

JONNY Wilkinson last night spoke of his pride at being made England rugby captain - but admits he is worried about his own form.

Fly-half Wilkinson was the clear choice of acting head coach Andy Robinson to lead the world champions into their November internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia.

And he beamed: "It's the ambition of so many players to one day be captain of England and today I have realised a dream." But behind his delight is a concern at the length of time it is taking him to shake off the rustiness caused by his eight-month injury lay-off. Wilkinson said: "It's amazing, not what you lose, but what slightly drops off when you haven't been playing week in, week out, or even training week in, week out with the team.

"The things that may have been instinctive a little while ago are not quite second nature just yet. They're things that you have to think about and that's just a time issue."

Speaking on Sky Sports' Rugby Club, he added: "I'm preparing harder than I ever have, trying harder than I ever have and I know what I want to achieve more than ever.

"But it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen and, in fact, it's harder now. Things have changed a bit for me and I've got to find the answers."

Wilkinson missed three of his five kicks at goal on Saturday as Newcastle were trounced at home by Leicester - yet time is on his side and there is no doubt he deserves to succeed Lawrence Dallaglio. England need to move away from last year's World Cup triumph and start anew, which will suit Wilkinson as he hates talking about 'that drop goal'.

They need a bridge between what remains of the old guard and the new generation - and Wilko, who may have 52 caps but is only 25-years-old - has the perfect credentials for that.

"There are several players in the squad I would feel comfortable in calling upon to be England captain but for me Jonny is in every way the right player to take on this challenge," said Robinson.

"He is a natural leader, holds the respect of the whole squad, is a formidable talent on the pitch and consistently demonstrates the energy and commitment I feel is essential to be captain of England." Given his extraordinary work ethic, there need be no panic that Wilkinson will sort out his own game before Canada get the ball rolling at Twickenham on November 13.

But there are a couple of questions raised by his appointment. Who will run the pre-match show in the changing room while he is out on the pitch sharpening his sights in front of goal?

And will a man who so patently dislikes being the centre of attention really welcome the added pressures which come with being national captain?

In his soon-to-be-published book, My World, Wilkinson writes: "I am a private individual and that privacy is very precious to me. I never asked to be famous... it is the game that attracts me, not the adulation." Robinson admits that the England captaincy "offers a challenging environment for any player", especially following on from Dallaglio and World Cup skipper Martin Johnson. But he added: "I am confident Jonny has what it takes to do an outstanding job."

Wilkinson is not new to the role, having skippered England to Six Nations victory over Italy at Twickenham in the 2003 Grand Slam campaign when Johnson was missing.

He said: "I'm honoured Andy wants me to be his captain, and to follow Lawrence and Martin means a lot to me as they are inspirational men who have given so much to England rugby over many years.

"Getting my first England cap against Ireland six years ago was something I'll never forget because to play for your country is very special. Taking on the captaincy is another important step in my career and I do so with immense pride."

2004-10-06T02:16:00.000+08:00

FRIENDS? NOT FOR 90 MINUTES ON SATURDAY

ENGLAND v WALES COUNTDOWN: FOUR DAYS TO WORLD CUP CLASH Welsh wing ace Giggs plans to leave his United pals Red-faced

By David Anderson

RYAN GIGGS expects his old pal Gary Neville to boot him into the air when he faces him at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The hostilities have already started in the Manchester United dressing room ahead of England's World Cup qualifier with Wales and Giggs and Neville have been taunting each other for months.

The two United stalwarts have never played against each other before and they cannot wait to go head-to-head.

Neville has been texting Giggs, bragging that England are going to stuff Wales and that he will have the winger in his back pocket for the whole game.

Giggs expects Neville to kick him within the first five minutes, but he says the England full-back won't see him for dust as he skips past down the wing.

The goading has been going on since the World Cup draw was made and Giggs claims his friendship with Neville and his other Reds' team-mates in the England camp will be put on hold for 90 minutes.

Giggs said: "Within minutes of the draw Gary texted me bragging about how England were going to thrash us and how he would put me in his back pocket.

"He'll probably boot me up in the air after five minutes, just as he does in training, and there won't be any quarter given.

"I've had my say too and I've been going past him in training and saying to him 'get used to it'.

"We'll be fine before and after the game, but for 90 minutes all club friendships will be put on hold."

Giggs, 30, who returns from suspension for the game, appreciates the threat posed by his United colleagues past and present.

He knows they must not give away any free-kicks around the box with David Beckham on the pitch, while he just hopes wonder boy Wayne Rooney has an off day.

But playing against his friends just makes Giggs even more determined to win and he claims nothing would be sweeter than beating England. The first meeting between the two sides for 20 years will be a memorable occasion and it will be the first time Giggs has used the away dressing room at Old Trafford.

"I haven't seen a lot of Becks lately so I'm looking forward to facing him," Giggs told Zoo magazine. "We'll just have to make sure we don't give away too many free-kicks.

"With Nicky Butt, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney also likely starters, there will be plenty of other familiar faces around.

"As for Wayne, hopefully he'll have an off day.

"A lot of hype has been whipped up about how much this means to the Welsh. But it's massive for England as well.

"I can't think of anything sweeter than beating them. Every Welshman wants to beat England."

Giggs and his Wales team-mates will be even more fired because it will be one of manager Mark Hughes' final games in charge.

Hughes will be standing down after the double header against England and Poland to focus on his Premiership managerial career with Blackburn.

Giggs will be sorry to see his old United team-mate go after he has engineered a renaissance in Welsh football.

"It's a shame that Sparky's going, but I don't think it will affect us in a negative way," he said.

"He's taken us from a pretty low point to a stage where we can beat anyone. We have a lot to thank him for."

Hughes is backing Giggs to destroy England's World Cup dreams and says the United star will enjoy rubbing noses in the dirt if he nets the deciding goal.

It would be an experience Hughes knows all too well after scoring the winner on his debut to beat England 1-0 at Wrexham in 1984.

He added: "I scored the winner when the teams last met and it was a special moment for me.

"I went back to Old Trafford and dished out a bit of stick to the English lads. And if Ryan can score the winner I'm sure you'll see a Welsh shirt in his first training session back at the club."

The Welsh FA will step up their hunt for Hughes' successor after the two World Cup qualifiers and Giggs would like to see Gary Speed take over. Speed is his country's most capped outfield player and Giggs says he would command the players' respect.

2004-10-06T02:10:00.000+08:00

215MILLION MEGA BECKS

By Neil Mccleman

DAVID Beckham has raked in 215million for Real Madrid since he signed for the Spanish club from Manchester United.

Real's income was 220million in 2002 but by the end of this season it will have rocketed to 435million thanks to the midas touch of the man nicknamed Goldenballs.

The England captain is so highly rated that Real's chairman Florentina Perez is reported to have said: "I'll sell the Bernabeu Stadium before I sell Beckham."

The player's worldwide appeal has seen the cash from sponsorship and marketing increase dramatically.

Beckham's image has been used to raise Real's profile, particularly in America and the Far East.

Most of the money has come from deals with multi-national companies like adidas and Pepsi.

Almost half the income, 198million, comes from marketing, compared to 131million from ticket sales and memberships.

The respected El Pais newspaper said: "The signing of Beckham revolutionised income through marketing.

"The signing coincided with the sporting decline of the team, while at the same time it saw a quantitative leap in the finances of the club."

The importance of Beckham was demonstrated last month when adidas complained to Real Madrid that the player was not picked for a league game. The manager, Jose Camacho, resigned the following week.

Despite the massive leap in club earnings, results on the field have been poor.

Real failed to win either La Liga or the Champions League last season, despite having some of the best players in the world.

While Beckham is counting his money, wife Victoria is totting up how many children they plan to have.

The couple, who are expecting their third, want FIVE.

In her first interview since becoming pregnant, Victoria, who already knows her third baby will be a boy, said: "A girl would be nice but I'm not one of those people that makes love at set times to increase the chance of having a girl.

"I don't really mind about the sex and as David wants to have lots of children, why worry?

"I am like a rabbit."

In the interview with a Spanish magazine, Victoria rarely touched on her private life and did not talk about Beckham's alleged affair with Rebecca Loos.

She added: I think Spain is more tolerant and people help you more than in England."

2004-10-06T02:01:00.000+08:00

BEING ENGLAND CAPTAIN IS A DREAM COME TRUE

By Alex Spink

JONNY Wilkinson last night spoke of his pride at being made England rugby captain - but admits he is worried about his own form.

Fly-half Wilkinson was the clear choice of acting head coach Andy Robinson to lead the world champions into their November internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia.

And he beamed: "It's the ambition of so many players to one day be captain of England and today I have realised a dream." But behind his delight is a concern at the length of time it is taking him to shake off the rustiness caused by his eight-month injury lay-off. Wilkinson said: "It's amazing, not what you lose, but what slightly drops off when you haven't been playing week in, week out, or even training week in, week out with the team.

"The things that may have been instinctive a little while ago are not quite second nature just yet. They're things that you have to think about and that's just a time issue."

Speaking on Sky Sports' Rugby Club, he added: "I'm preparing harder than I ever have, trying harder than I ever have and I know what I want to achieve more than ever.

"But it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen and, in fact, it's harder now. Things have changed a bit for me and I've got to find the answers."

Wilkinson missed three of his five kicks at goal on Saturday as Newcastle were trounced at home by Leicester - yet time is on his side and there is no doubt he deserves to succeed Lawrence Dallaglio. England need to move away from last year's World Cup triumph and start anew, which will suit Wilkinson as he hates talking about 'that drop goal'.

They need a bridge between what remains of the old guard and the new generation - and Wilko, who may have 52 caps but is only 25-years-old - has the perfect credentials for that.

"There are several players in the squad I would feel comfortable in calling upon to be England captain but for me Jonny is in every way the right player to take on this challenge," said Robinson.

"He is a natural leader, holds the respect of the whole squad, is a formidable talent on the pitch and consistently demonstrates the energy and commitment I feel is essential to be captain of England." Given his extraordinary work ethic, there need be no panic that Wilkinson will sort out his own game before Canada get the ball rolling at Twickenham on November 13.

But there are a couple of questions raised by his appointment. Who will run the pre-match show in the changing room while he is out on the pitch sharpening his sights in front of goal?

And will a man who so patently dislikes being the centre of attention really welcome the added pressures which come with being national captain?

In his soon-to-be-published book, My World, Wilkinson writes: "I am a private individual and that privacy is very precious to me. I never asked to be famous... it is the game that attracts me, not the adulation." Robinson admits that the England captaincy "offers a challenging environment for any player", especially following on from Dallaglio and World Cup skipper Martin Johnson. But he added: "I am confident Jonny has what it takes to do an outstanding job."

Wilkinson is not new to the role, having skippered England to Six Nations victory over Italy at Twickenham in the 2003 Grand Slam campaign when Johnson was missing.

He said: "I'm honoured Andy wants me to be his captain, and to follow Lawrence and Martin means a lot to me as they are inspirational men who have given so much to England rugby over many years.

"Getting my first England cap against Ireland six years ago was something I'll never forget because to play for your country is very special. Taking on the captaincy is another important step in my career and I do so with immense pride."

2004-10-04T18:33:00.000+08:00

I'D REALLY LOVE TO CALL OUR BABY LUNA

By Ben Todd, Showbusiness Editor

PREGNANT Victoria Beckham has revealed how she and England captain David's next child could play soccer for the Three Lions...or Spain.

She says the new arrival, a boy due in March, will have dual nationality - giving the youngster the chance to appear for either country if he follows in his father's football steps.

Posh, who moved to Madrid full-time to be with David two months ago, has spoken publicly for the first time since falling pregnant days before Euro 2004 in June.

She said that Brooklyn, five, and two-year-old Romeo are thrilled at the prospect of having a little brother... and hinted there could be more babies to come.

"I love the word luna (Spanish for moon). I know it's a girl's name - so maybe for the next baby..." she said.

Since becoming pregnant Posh, 30 - who will fly her personal doctor to Madrid for the birth - has been having food cravings. "I feel like eating olives and chips with salt and vinegar," she said.

And she revealed that she and David have yet to decide which hospital the baby will be born in.

She said: We are still looking for one because I was so busy with the house and looking for a school for the boys.

"But it will be very nice that the child is born here in Spain.

"Obviously, he will have dual nationality - which means he will be available for the England and Spanish teams!" Despite knowing the baby will be a boy, the couple have not yet chosen a name.

Posh said: "We want to wait and see what he is like. We are going to buy a book of names and then we will see."

And she insisted she and Becks are not disappointed they are not having a girl. "We are very happy.

"I know it's an obvious thing to say but as long as the child is healthy, I don't mind if it's a boy or a girl."

Posh had finally put her pop career on hold and joined David in Madrid in August - more than a year after his £25million transfer to Real Madrid - after claims that he had an affair with his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos.

The couple are now settled into a 3.5million home in the city... and Posh is keen to say how happy she is.

"People here are very friendly and I feel everything is ideal," she told Spanish magazine Gala.

She also revealed how David has urged her to think more before she speaks publicly.

In the past, she has caused embarrassment to her hubby by talking about their sex life in public.

During one radio interview, she even claimed David likes to wear her knickers.

Posh admitted: "David says I should be careful with what I say because my mouth is like a weapon of mass destruction.

"I say the first thing that comes into my head."

2004-10-04T18:31:00.000+08:00

BECKS' SIS LETS LOOS

Jo's bust-up with Rebecca ex

JOANNE Beckham had a furious nightclub bust-up with Rebecca Loos's ex-girlfriend Emma Basden.

David's little sister and lesbian TV presenter Emma had the heated exchange in the chic Pangea nightclub in London's West End on Thursday night.

Emma, 32 - who co-presents the BBC property show Safe As Houses - famously told the Sunday Mirror back in April how she enjoyed a romance with Rebecca, while the former personal assistant was also seeing the England soccer captain.

And it seems the wounds are still raw for the Beckhams. My mole tells me: "Joanne was very angry when she spotted Emma in the same club as her.

"She didn't care who saw as she stormed up to Emma.

"She was shouting to her about 'that girl' Rebecca Loos. Emma tried to calm the situation down, but Joanne just looked down at her and sneered, 'I'm getting out of here', before walking out.

Friends were trying to calm her down but it didn't make any difference. It was an astonishing row."

Hairdresser Joanne, 22, has earned a reputation for getting into sticky situations.

She got herself into a spot of bother when her secret romance with Blue star Antony Costa was exposed when his ex, Lucy Bolster, found their sexy text messages.

Talk about like brother like sister.

2004-10-04T18:24:00.000+08:00

RIO HAS CLASS TO SKIPPER ENGLAND

By Anthony Clavane And Simon Mullock

SVEN Goran Eriksson has identified Rio Ferdinand as a future England captain.

And his Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson reckons he will take over as Old Trafford skipper too!

Ferdinand hasn't played international football for a year after being axed from Sven's side for the Turkey match last October.

Despite being banned for missing a drugs test the defender will be welcomed back into the national team for Saturday's clash with Wales with open arms.

Eriksson said: "I'm sure he is a future England captain. He is a leader. Rio has all the qualities to be captain - he brings calm to a team, he talks to players, they listen to him, he's a team player and I have a good relationship with him.

"Becks is the captain, and he will remain so, but Rio's one for the future. He was excellent for United against Fenerbahce and I could not believe he'd been out for eight months. I was happy to see him as captain for that match.

"I never saw Bobby Moore live but I saw him on TV and maybe Rio is like Moore."

Ferguson claimed Ferdinand was a cross between Eric Cantona and Roy Keane.

He said: "He is a very composed, skillful defender and is respected for his technical ability, but he can also get to the players verbally. He has all I look for."

2004-10-04T18:23:00.000+08:00

BECKHAM'S GIGGS WISH

DAVID BECKHAM hopes his old team-mate Ryan Giggs reaches the finals of a major competition one day - just as long as it's not at the expense of England.

"I've always thought that it would be nice for Wales to get to an international competition," said England captain Beckham.

"Obviously, if it's a choice between us going and them going I'd choose us but I would like Wales to get to a major competition just for Giggsy. He deserves it."

The former Manchester United colleagues come face to face at Old Trafford on Saturday and Beckham added: "It is going to be good because he's playing well for United and they are playing exceptionally well." Becks was encouraged by England star Wayne Rooney's astonishing hat-trick debut for United in midweek.

"It's great to see Rooney back and it's great to see him scoring goals," he said at the launch of his new skills DVD.

2004-10-04T18:22:00.000+08:00

ERIKSSON SHOCKED BY MARK

By Anthony Clavane

SVEN GORAN Eriksson can't believe that Mark Hughes hasn't been "slaughtered" for becoming part-time boss of Wales.

Hughes will give up international football after the England and Poland games but at the moment combines both the Welsh and Blackburn jobs.

Eriksson blasted: "I don't think I could do my job part-time. In fact no one else in Europe or even the world would take a national job part-time.

"If you do that it means you are a club manager as well and you will have no chance to see your national players.

"The reaction to Mark taking the Wales post on such a basis was a big shock to me. Nobody criticised him! If that had happened to me I'd have been slaughtered by the media."

Eriksson is aware of how much Saturday's World Cup qualifier means to Hughes, though. He said: "I know the last time England we played Wales they beat us and a certain Mark Hughes scored the winning goal - on his debut. We are favourites on paper but this is like a local derby."

2004-10-04T18:19:00.000+08:00

I'M BUILDING MY BEST EVER TEAM

By Simon Mullock

SIR ALEX FERGUSON fears he will not be at Old Trafford long enough to reap the rewards of a team he believes will be the best he has built at Manchester United.

Ferguson celebrates his 18th anniversary in charge of United next month and arguments rage over whether the greatest side of his era were the Double winners of 1994, the team that emulated the achievement two years later, or the men who created history in 1999 by winning the Treble.

But while United's fans debate who was the greatest, Ferguson, even at the age of 63, continues his quest for footballing perfection.

And after investing heavily in youngsters like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Smith, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson and Jonathan Spector, Ferguson is predicting the best is yet to come.

The only question as far as he is concerned is whether he will still be in charge at United when the team he is building reaches their peak..

Ferguson said: "I am enjoying the job so much at the moment that I haven't got a date for retirement.

"But it is a fact that we now have a lot of young players at the club and we are not going to see the best of the team I am developing for a good few years yet.

"I suppose it is sod's law that when I do eventually step aside I will be leaving players who are not yet at their peak. That's football.

"I am aware of the fact that there is a chance that the best team I have ever built for this club could be the one I don't get to manage.

"That's just a fact of life in football. Once you get into your 60s you are not guaranteed your health so you don't know what it going to happen.

"I signed a one-year rolling contract last season that began this summer and to be honest I think I am in the perfect situation at the moment as far as my future is concerned.

"The beauty of the contract is that either I can decide when I am going to retire or the club can decide for me. But what it means is that there is none of the uncertainty we had back in 2002 when I originally set a date for my retirement. I still believe we suffered that season because of the problems that caused.

"At the moment I feel good. I feel I am in control of my future and I don't even have to think about retirement. But tomorrow, who knows?"

Ferguson insists he will not stay beyond his sell-by date - admitting he plans to one day walk away from the job he loves rather than announce any long-term retirement plan like he did three years ago.

He added: "We're all entitled to one mistake in life and mine was when I announced that I was going to retire in 2002. I won't be doing that again.

"The day I decide to retire is the day that I announce it and go."

2004-10-01T13:38:00.000+08:00

Becks Jnr gets Elton dosh

By LUCY HAGANSIR

ELTON John is leaving little Brooklyn Beckham a share of his millions when he dies, the star has revealed.

The flamboyant gay singer, who has no children of his own, aims to split his 175million riches between his ten godchildren.

They include five-year-old Brooklyn, son of England soccer captain David and Victoria.

Brooklyn's little brother Romeo, two, is also thought to be one of the ten.

Another is wealthy film beauty Elizabeth Hurley's tot Damian, two.

Sean Lennon, 28 - son of murdered Beatle John - is also a godson of Sir Elton and may get a share of his fortune.

The 57-year-old superstar, who lives with partner David Furnish, said: "David and I are godfathers to Brooklyn and Damian. I have about ten godchildren. I love kids.

"There was a part of me going, 'Who am I going to leave this to?' It was going to be nobody.

"We have enough godchildren to leave everything to now. They're going to inherit a fair old whack but they play a big part in our lives."

Sir Elton has nicknamed Brooklyn "Buster" and gives him piano lessons.

The tot and Romeo already stand to inherit a third each of their parents' 65million - if their due baby is their last.

2004-09-29T18:58:00.000+08:00

Fergie lauds 'strongest squad I've had'

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted he has a group of players to be proud of now Wayne Rooney is not only up and running but scoring goals for fun.

The 18-year-old England striker marked his debut by scoring an astonishing hat-trick in the 6-2 defeat of Fenerbache in the Champions League.

Rooney's arrival following his 27million move from Everton gave United a lift and they went on to record a thumping victory.

Ferguson said: 'I think this is probably the strongest squad I have had.

'We have managed to combine the team of the past with younger players who are going to get better. This team can develop over the next three years.

'You can tell with the players we have we will always score goals. But whether we have more attacking flair than 1999 (the year United won the European Cup) is difficult to say.

'We have had good attacking players the last five years.'

Rooney showed that the bigger the stage the better he performs and it took him only 17 minutes to get going . Ryan Giggs had already put the hosts in front when he rose to glide Kleberson's excellent cross into the corner when Ruud van Nistelrooy delivered a killer ball right into the heart of the Fenerbahce defence.

There, 25 yards out, completely unmarked was Rooney.

In front of 67,000 expectant fans and millions at home on TV, this Liverpool lad showed great maturity, striding onto the pass before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Rustu Recber.

The Turkish goalkeeper had been so dismissive of United's chances before the game but he obviously had not seen much of Rooney.

He did not see much of the England star's next shot either as it flew low to his left to put the hosts 3-0 up.

If Rooney had been able to divert a shot from Gary Neville's low cross on target, he might have had a match ball to accompany his half-time tea.

As it was he had to wait until seven minutes after the restart when he scored with a free-kick that David Beckham would have been proud of.

Marcio Nobre and Tuncay Sanli scored after Rooney's second and third efforts but just as it looked like United would suffer an astonishing change in fortune, van Nistelrooy popped up to net his customary European goal before David Bellion added a sixth.

It was Dutch striker van Nistelrooy's 31st Champions League goal for United in just 33 starts and he linked up well with Rooney.

Ferguson said: 'Given that Wayne and Ruud played together for the first time the future holds great promise.

'With Ruud and Wayne as a partnership it was excellent.'

Ferguson has tipped Rooney, who broke his foot in Euro 2004, to get better and stronger.

'It's a great start for him. That's why we signed him as he's got great potential,' said the Scot.

'But I would rather talk about the game to be honest. He is only 18 and a young boy, don't forget.

'He obviously tired in the last 20 minutes but given that it was his first game since the European Championships you could expect that. I think he can only get stronger.

'The important thing, for me as a coach, is to allow the boy to develop naturally without too much public attention. I want him to be as ordinary as he can.'

Fenerbahce coach Christoph Daum took time out to pay tribute to Rooney.

'It was an outstanding debut,' he said. 'It is something you dream of as a manager for a player to play in this way and to score in this way in his first game.

'If he does that, it makes you very happy and you're a very lucky manager.

'Rooney is still very young and maybe he will become the player of the century. He is at the beginning now though.'

Fenerbahce kept plugging away though and there were a few worrying moments for United and Ferguson said: 'Their set-pieces kept us under pressure and on edge, particularly in the second half.

'You have to give them credit for the quality of service into the box and the way they won a lot of the second balls.

'One of the reasons we managed to score so many goals was that Fenerbahce went for it.'

2004-09-29T18:57:00.000+08:00

Rooney can break my records - Ruud

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Wayne Rooney has the potential to break every Manchester United goal-scoring record, said fellow striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after Rooney's hat-trick on his debut.

The teenager scored three goals in the 6-2 Champions League rout of Fenerbahce at Old Trafford on Tuesday, his first game since a 27 million ($48.9 million) move from Everton.
'It was fantastic,' said van Nistelrooy on Wednesday. 'He is 18 and has such a bright future ahead of him.

'If he keeps on doing the same thing like this he can beat my records. I wish him all the best and hope and believe he can break every single record there is for Manchester United.'

The Dutchman scored once on Wednesday, taking his European tally for United to 31. He beat Denis Law's record of 28 goals earlier in the month in a 2-2 draw at Olympique Lyon.
Bobby Charlton holds United's league goal-scoring record with 199.

'Everyone congratulated him after the game on a fantastic performance which he totally deserved. It is all good for United and it is great to have him here because he is quality,' Van Nistelrooy told the London Evening Standard.

'He showed amazing character. If I were to praise one thing, it was his attitude. To do that at his young age is fantastic.'

2004-09-29T15:12:00.000+08:00

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Ferguson hails 'magnificent' Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson tonight hailed Wayne Rooney's Manchester United debut as 'magnificent' after the England striker's hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Wayne Rooney bursts past Deniz Baris (LaurenceGriffiths/GettyImages)

Rooney scored three terrific goals, capped by a sensational free-kick for his last, and Ferguson was hugely appreciative of the £27million new recruit's impact.

'Considering it was his first game, I think it was magnificent,' said Ferguson.

'He obviously tired in the last 25 minutes - but his job had been done.

'I think everyone has seen what potential the boy has.'

With the former Everton youngster making his European bow - and his first appearance at any level since breaking a bone in his foot at Euro 2004 - it was all the more impressive an achievement.

Ferguson believes there is more to come from the 18-year-old, who also set up David Bellion for United's final goal in their 6-2 victory.

'We want to develop him, and that's going to take time,' added Ferguson.

Of United's display, Ferguson told ITV1: 'Attacking-wise it was very very good.' But he was caused occasional moments of concern by the Turkish champions, notably via the route from which both Fenerbahce's goals arrived.

'I have to say that their corner kick and set-piece play was fantastic,' said Ferguson.

'They were really putting us under pressure, and their shots from the edge of the box were always on target. They did very well with that.

'They always kept us on edge - but our attacking play decided it.'

Fenerbahce coach Christoph Daum shrugged off the defeat to pay tribute to Rooney.

'It was an outstanding debut,' he said.

'It is something you dream of as a manager for a player to play in this way and to score in this way in his first game.

'If he does that, it makes you very happy and you're a very lucky manager.

'Rooney is still very young and maybe he will become the player of the century. He is at the beginning now though.'

2004-09-29T15:06:00.000+08:00

Real Madrid 4-2 Roma: FT Report

MADRID, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Real Madrid proved there is still life at the Bernabeu as captain Raul scored twice to lead a heroic fightback and earn the home side a 4-2 victory over AS Roma in Champions League Group B on Tuesday.

Real, in crisis after three defeats in four games and the shock departure of coach Jose Antonio Camacho, were in even deeper trouble when Daniele De Rossi put the Italians ahead in the third minute and Antonio Cassano doubled the lead in the 22nd.

Roma went into the game in equally bad shape, however, and the Italians, playing under Ezio Sella following coach Rudi Voeller's weekend resignation, never looked like having the nerve to hold on to their lead.

Raul chipped in from the edge of the box to get the home side back into the game six minutes before the break, Luis Figo scored from the penalty spot and then set up Raul for his second and Roberto Carlos blasted in the fourth 10 minutes from time.

Raul's double took his goal tally in the Champions League to 47, two short of Alfredo di Stefano's all-time record in the European Cup.

Victory for Real, playing their first European game under Mariano Garcia Remon, gave them their first points in Group B, after a 3-0 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen in their opening match.

Defeat leaves Roma facing a desperate fight to make it through to the knock-out phase, after they were consigned to a 3-0 defeat when their opening match at home to Dynamo Kiev had to be stopped when the referee was hit by a missile from the crowd.

Kiev top the group with a maximum six points after beating Leverkusen 4-2 on Tuesday.

SQUANDERED LEAD

The Roma players only had themselves to blame this time after squandering the two-goal lead handed to them by a Real side who were looking a nervous wreck.

The first came in the third minute, when Real failed to clear a corner and let in De Rossi to take a lofted through ball from Traianos Dellas and clip it past Iker Casillas.

Real, their pride stung, started to attack with a bit of purpose but with Zinedine Zidane playing at half pace on his return from a shoulder injury, they lacked the finesse to unlock Roma's defence.

Roma were going forward only half heartedly themselves but Francesco Totti's astute pass wrong-footed the home defence in the 22nd minute, Simone Perrotta touched the ball back and Cassano shot in off the post.

Crucially, Real managed to claim a goal back before the break, when Raul swept the ball over Ivan Pelizzoli from the edge of the box.

Roma should have restored the two-goal lead when Cassano jinked inside the box and crossed for Christian Panucci to head wide at the far post.

The Italians paid for that when Panucci pushed Raul in the box in the 72nd minute and Figo slotted in the penalty.

Real were the only serious candidates for the win by that stage. Raul flicked the ball in from Figo's drilled cross at the near post and Roberto Carlos made certain of victory with his trademark effort from outside the area.

Remon draws optimism from comeback

Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon believes his side can look forward to the rest of the season with genuine optimism after finding a combination of good football and unflagging spirit to come from two goals down to beat AS Roma 4-2.

'This victory will really lift our spirits,' Garcia Remon told a news conference after Tuesday's game.

'To beat an Italian team when you are 2-0 down and after they got eight men behind the ball is a very big achievement.

'We didn't just win because we showed great heart, but because we played great football and that is the most important thing.'

'I never doubted the attitude of the players,' said the Real coach. 'I knew they would show character, but what I was most pleased about was they we played good football.

'What's more this is the perfect way to win back the support of the fans. They got behind us when we went 2-0 down and without them we couldn't have fought back to win the game.

England midfielder David Beckham meanwhile told Sky Sports News: 'It was an important match for us. We showed the unity which people want to see. They want to see the players together and see us fighting and I think they got that tonight.

'It's been a difficult couple of weeks for us leading up to this game. It showed the togetherness of the team.

'For the first 20 minutes we were maybe nervous but for 70 minutes after that we pushed. At 2-0 down it was make-or-break and we had to win this game. We were playing our football but we needed to relax a bit more.

'The majority of the team are used to managers coming in and out. It's new for me. I'm not used to it but I have got to get used to it. Once you get out on the pitch it doesn't matter who the manager is.'

Roma coach Ezio Sella, who took charge of the club on a caretaker basis after Rudi Voeller threw in the towel at the weekend, said that despite the defeat he could still take some positives from the game.

'It was a decent performance in some ways. If we had managed to go into the break 2-0 up then I think it would have been a different story.

'The penalty at the start of the second half upset our plans and gave them the confidence to take control. With the great players they have it was very difficult to stop them after that.'

Roma now face an uphill task in making it through to the knockout stages after Dynamo Kiev were awarded a 3-0 victory in their opening game when the match was abandoned after the referee was hit by an object thrown from the crowd in Rome.

They have to play their next two home games behind closed doors.

2004-09-29T14:55:00.000+08:00

Becks back in frame

From ERIC BEAUCHAMP

ROBERTO CARLOS defended his playboy lifestyle - but admits hanging out with David Beckham can be a real nightmare.

Madrid's superstar left-back revealed: "The problem with going out with Beckham is the paparazzi. Since he arrived it's much harder to get rid of them."

Brazilian Carlos, 31, has earned a reputation for enjoying the Spanish nightlife after being caught on camera in clubs surrounded by gorgeous women.

But he insists his football does not suffer thanks to a strict set of Samba guidelines.

He revealed: "I never drink much, I never go home drunk and I keep an eye on the time.

"If you have a game on Sunday and you are out on Friday, you can't stay out late."

Carlos also revealed his frustration at being used by women to make money out of kiss-and-tell stories.

He added: "Spanish women are too pretty and they're hot - just like Brazilians and Italians. But I prefer to be single.

"Sometimes when you go out with a woman afterwards they want to make a scene.

"They go on a TV show to tell about how they went out with me so they can make some money out of it. It's disappointing."

2004-09-29T14:54:00.000+08:00

You can do it, Michael

From ERIC BEAUCHAMP

Real Madrid 4 Roma 2

DAVID BECKHAM last night urged Michael Owen to stay strong as he fights for a Real Madrid place.

Owen, 24, was left to watch from the bench again as Raul, his main rival, scored twice to help Madrid battle back from 2-0 down.

Luis Figo's penalty and a Roberto Carlos left-foot special completed the fightback and gave Real a Champions League lifeline when they looked in danger of crashing out of Group B.

Raul's return to form as he finally broke his NINE-MONTH scoring duck at the Bernabeu has dented Owen's chances of claiming a starting spot.

But Becks, 29, said: "It's the same for any player who comes here. It's not easy to break into this team.

"Michael will get his chance because everybody knows what a great player he is.

"It's never nice to sit on the bench but he is a strong personality."

The win eased the pressure on Real's stop-gap boss Mariano Garcia Remon.

Madrid looked dead and buried after just 21 minutes with Roma leading after goals from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano.

But Raul dragged Real back into the game with a 39th-minute shot that took a touch off Roma defender Traianos Dellas before looping in.

Becks almost equalised when he let fly with his right foot only for Ivan Pelizzoli to produce a superb save.

Russian ref Valentin Ivanov sparked fury among Roma players by awarding a penalty against ex-Madrid right-back Christian Panucci for a push on Raul.

Figo lashed in the spot-kick for 2-2 after 53 minutes. Raul slid in to convert Figo's cross on 72 minutes and Roberto Carlos unleashed a bullet into the top corner to complete a memorable win in the 79th minute.

Becks added: "This was the best we have played all season."

2004-09-29T14:53:00.000+08:00

Real didn't want Owen

From ERIC BEAUCHAMP in Madrid

MICHAEL OWEN and Jonathan Woodgate were never Real Madrid's transfer priorities before joining in the summer.

The Spanish side paid 8million to Liverpool for striker Owen and 13.4million to Newcastle for crocked defender Woodgate.

But Real's ex-sporting director Jorge Valdano, who was in charge of targeting new players, revealed Madrid did not want the English duo as they went all out to land Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira.

He said: "We juggled various names between Walter Samuel and Vieira but Owen wasn't one of our options at the time and Woodgate was not a priority."

Valdano quit at the end of last season when he accepted part- responsibility for a disastrous season after he head-hunted coach Carlos Queiroz, who failed to win a trophy.

Real only moved for Owen, 24, when they realised they were on the brink of failing to sign Vieira and needed a big name to appease the Bernabeu fans.

But the England hitman has struggled to make an impact and has yet to play a full 90 minutes or score a goal for his new club.

And he admitted he was shocked to be caught up in the Madrid crisis following boss Jose Camacho's decision to quit two days after giving Owen his first start in the 1-0 defeat at Espanyol.

Real president Florentino Perez blasted critics of Owen's arrival and insisted the striker will prove his worth in Real's star-studded side.

But Perez admitted he would never have sanctioned the shock move for Woodgate, 24, if Vieira, or back-up midfield option Emerson of Roma, had moved to the Bernabeu.

Perez said: "The new players were a bit confused when the coach left after only three games but they have to remain calm and little by little they will get over the set-backs.

"Owen unnecessary? I think the best players in the world are never unnecessary.

"Woodgate was injured but so was Ronaldo when we signed him. And look at the seasons he has had with Real Madrid.

"We tried to get Vieira and we couldn't get Emerson because he had an arrangement with Juventus.

"If we had signed Vieira we wouldn't have signed Woodgate."

Woodgate is still recovering after six months out with a thigh injury but has been earmarked to train with the first-team squad within two weeks.

Perez has assured stop-gap boss Mariano Garcia Remon he will not rush into replacing him with a big name after being linked with England chief Sven Goran Eriksson and Bobby Robson.

Remon's Real edged past Osasuna 1-0 and then lost 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

That left the Spanish giants in eighth after five rounds of games in La Liga and they take on Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

But supremo Perez insisted: "Mariano has all the time he wants.

"Here we know how to wait because that's how we have amassed triumphs.

"We appreciated Mariano's work last year. He's a Real Madrid man, he has the experience of more than 300 matches and he has said he feels able to bring out the talent of the players."

Perez reckons Real's critics place unrealistic demands on players like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Raul to give world-beating performances in every match on the domestic and European scene.

He said: "Perhaps we have created a monster which is devouring itself. If we win 1-0, we have played badly. If we lose it's a disaster.

"What's clear is that Madrid can't always play well against teams who save their best performances of the season for their games against us."

2004-09-24T23:42:00.001+08:00

Injury forces Owen out of Real squad

MADRID, Sept 24 (Reuters) - England striker Michael Owen has been left out of the Real Madrid squad to play Athletic Bilbao this weekend because of a minor leg strain.

The 24-year-old played the last 10 minutes of his side's 1-0 victory against Osasuna last Tuesday but was only able to jog around the pitch in Friday's training session and will not travel to Bilbao with the rest of his team mates.

Owen has made just one start for Real in the league since joining the club from Liverpool for 12 million euros ($14.76 million) in the close season.

With Raul likely to fill in on the left in the absence of injured midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Santiago Solari, Guti and Fernando Morientes are favourites to join Ronaldo in the Real attack for Saturday's match.

2004-09-24T23:42:00.000+08:00

Woodgate sets Real return date

MADRID, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate has successfully recovered from a long-term thigh injury and should be ready to train with the rest of the team in a maximum of two weeks, according to club medical staff.

Doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez said that the England international, who signed for Real for 20 million in August, was being subjected to a pre-season training regime in order to recover his fitness after a five-month injury layoff.

'He's working really hard,' Hernandez told the club's website. 'In two weeks he should be able to train together with the rest of the team and soon after that he should be ready to play.

'He may even surprise us and be ready to train with the others next week but we have to take it one step at a time.'

The 24-year-old England international has not played a competitive match since he tore a thigh muscle in a league match against Chelsea in April.

2004-09-24T23:38:00.000+08:00

Becks no longer a sponsor's dream

Wayne Rooney has overtaken David Beckham to become the English player who is most attractive to potential sponsors.

Thierry Henry: More attractive than Rooney, a new report 'proves'. (Photo/GettyImages)

Beckham may currently earn more than his international team-mate from sponsorship deals but City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, who provide an annual list of the players deemed most desirable by international corporate giants, claim the England captain is 'over-branded' and they rate Rooney's potential higher despite recent negative publicity surrounding the teenager.

Neither player though matches Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry who comes out top of the list, which has been devised by the firm's head of pricing strategies Michael Stirling, with Rooney next ahead of Real Madrid trio Ronaldo, Beckham and Zinedine Zidane.

Stirling told the Press Association 'We advise the corporates on which players they should go for and try to identify what makes a player the hottest property.

'It is a lot more than performance on the pitch, it is about how well the ordinary person on the street recognises them, how charismatic they are, their global appeal, even how they dress.

'Thierry Henry is the hottest property right now - he looks great, he's the right age, he plays in a sexy position and he has everything.

'At first we were not sure about Rooney but there has been so much interest in him that he has to be included high in the top five.

'He appeals to a certain market - a large car manufacturer would be ideal - and signing for Manchester United also means that his profile will shoot right up.

'Beckham has certainly been top in the past but we feel now that he is over-branded and out of favour.'

Stirling has also drawn up a mini-league of up-and-coming players and youngsters to watch in the more distant future.

United's Cristiano Ronaldo heads that list ahead of Kaka, AC Milan's brilliant young Brazilian, Juventus' Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Arsenal's Jose Reyes and Roma's French defender Philippe Mexes.

The youngsters to watch are: Freddy Adu, DC United's Ghana-born 15-year-old American who signed a one-million-dollar deal with Nike when he was just 14; Carlos Tevez, the Boca Juniors striker who was the star of Argentina's Olympic champions last month; Robinho, the exciting Brazilian talent who plays for Santos; Arsenal's Spanish 17-year-old sensation Cesc Fabregas; Dong Fangzhou, the teenager Chinese striker signed by Manchester United and now on loan at Royal Antwerp.

2004-09-23T15:02:00.000+08:00

Becks: Don't rush Stevie

By ERIC BEAUCHAMP

DAVID BECKHAM has warned Steven Gerrard not to risk his career by rushing back from injury.

Gerrard, 24, faces three months out with a broken left foot after cracking a metatarsal.

Becks almost missed the World Cup finals two years ago with the same problem - and best pal Gary Neville's World Cup dream was KO'd by an identical injury.

Manchester United star Neville suffered complications by returning too early and Beckham insists Gerrard must not make that mistake.

Becks said: "Steven Gerrard is an important England and Liverpool player so he must resist the temptation to hurry back into action.

"Gary Neville came back too quickly and ended up having to take more time off."

Gerrard's injury is the latest setback to the midfield star's career after a series of lay-offs in the treatment room.

Beckham added: "Unfortunately, Stevie seems to be one of those players who picks up bad injuries.

"But he's shown in the past that he's strong enough to bounce back and I'm sure he'll do that again."

2004-09-23T14:58:00.000+08:00

Owen: I'm stunned

By ERIC BEAUCHAMP

MICHAEL OWEN has revealed his shock at being caught up in the Real Madrid crisis.

Boss Jose Camacho quit after his decision to pick Owen ahead of skipper Raul sparked a player revolt against him and his hardline managerial style.

Owen, 24, admits Camacho's exit is a huge setback in his bid to establish himself at the Bernabeu after believing he was winning over the former Spain boss.

He said: "There's no doubt this has come as a shock. It's strange but everyone has assured me it is not the norm for this to happen so soon.

"But you just have to get on with it. I seemed to be playing more and more under Camacho even though I know it was only three games.

"It's disappointing, not least for him. I'm sure he wanted to be successful.

"Unfortunately, it's part of football. Players come and go, as do managers, but you just have to get on with it, there's nothing else you can do."

Now he has to start all over again under new coach Mariano Garcia Remon, who has made it clear Owen is back to fourth-choice striker - behind Raul, Ronaldo and Fernando Morientes.

Remon won his first game in charge - 1-0 against Osasuna on Tuesday - thanks to a stunning David Beckham free-kick, with Owen coming on as a sub only in the last 10 minutes.

But the team's display did nothing to convince angry fans or Real president Florentino Perez.

Owen could yet find himself with a third boss unless stop-gap Remon inspires a big improvement.

The England ace admits his lack of Spanish is a problem. Remon, like Camacho, does not speak English.

So the arrival of an English-speaking boss would be a massive boost to the former Liverpool king.

In the meantime, Owen is adamant he is not being cold-shouldered in the dressing room following his 8million summer arrival.

He said: "I don't know all their conversations because of the language problem.

"But from what I've seen I've been surprised how united the players are. When you have so many big stars that can sometimes not be the case.”

Owen insists he will prove he is worthy of his place among the galacticos if he is given a run in the side.

He said: "I'd love to get the first goal under my belt. There's no pressure then.

"There are four strikers here and any one of us can perform with each other.

"I'm new to the country and new to the club but I'll show some good form soon - if I get the chance."

Perez is already chasing a big-name boss to command the respect of Madrid's disgruntled millionaire stars.

But England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and former Real chief Vicente Del Bosque are non-starters, while snatching Arsene Wenger from Arsenal is pure fantasy.

Ex-Bayern Munich boss Otmar Hitzfeld and former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa tempt Perez but Bobby Robson seems to be his No 1 choice to mind the store for the rest of the season. The one-time England gaffer is a legend in Europe after successful spells at PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona.

And Sir Bobby would love a crack at another European giant to bring an amazing end to his illustrious career.

Becks, meanwhile, insists it is good news for England that Eriksson has denied any contact with Madrid.

The midfielder said: "He has shown his commitment to the country and that's what people want.

"It's what the players want and I'm sure it's what 90 per cent of the supporters want." Becks' confidence has been boosted by the glory of winning Real's last two home games with his trademark free-kicks.

But he says even that will probably not silence calls for him to be dropped by his country.

He admitted: "I doubt I've put that behind me.

"If I have a bad game I'm sure it will come back.

"But as long as I can look at myself in the morning and I'm happy that I've worked hard, that is enough for me."

It seems Owen is the one who will be more worried about his England future unless Madrid get a boss who believes in him.

2004-09-21T11:07:00.000+08:00

Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool: FT Report

Rio Ferdinand saw his return to Manchester United colours overshadowed by defensive colleague Mikael Silvestre who powered home the goals that beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford.

After eight months as a frustrated spectator, Ferdinand's comeback dominated the build-up to one the traditionally fiery north-west encounter.

The England man's presence definitely appeared to instil greater backbone into a United defence that has crumbled too often for Sir Alex Ferguson's liking, but neither player nor manager expected the post-match chatter to centre around another member of the hosts rearguard.

Yet that is exactly what happened as Silvestre powered home identical headers either side of the break to give United a deserved victory, end a run of four successive draws and close the gap on champions Arsenal to seven points.

Rafael Benitez has made a positive impression since replacing Gerard Houllier during the summer but the Spaniard will have to sort out the slack marking that allowed Silvestre to rise unchallenged deep inside the area first to meet a Ryan Giggs free-kick, then the Welshman's corner.

The second effort will be hotly disputed by Liverpool, as the Giggs appeared to be the last person to touch the ball as he challenged Sami Hyypia.

But there was no doubting the conviction with which Silvestre met the ball, ensuring John O'Shea was not left lamenting the one blot on an otherwise superb central midfield performance.

It was pure bad luck that O'Shea happened to be standing almost on top of Roy Carroll when the Northern Irishman, predictably given his chance after a catalogue of recent blunders from Tim Howard, palmed away a Steve Finnan header.

Neither United man could react fast enough to do anything but turn in horror as the ball rolled slowly over the line but, thanks to Silvestre, it did not prove to be the pivotal moment of the game.

Ferdinand's return had been widely predicted as a obvious solution to the defensive problems that have consigned United to an unusual mid-table berth even at this early stage of the season.

Yet anyone observing the breathtaking first 45 minutes who had not seen the Red Devils in action already would have wondered what the fuss was all about.

Djibril Cisse did have one early chance to put Liverpool in front but aside from that the visitors were metaphorically, and literally on a sodden Manchester evening, swamped.

On the night he became only the third United player to make 600 appearances for the club, Giggs can be delighted with his personal contribution but yet again his wing twin Cristiano Ronaldo produced all the trickery, leaving the Liverpool defence floundering.

Once the young Portuguese star gains the vision to match his skill, few defenders in the world will be able to live with him. As it is, there is still some work for Ferguson to do, although not as much as the beleaguered Liverpool defence were faced with trying to stop him.

Wary of making a rash challenge, the Reds defenders stood off Ronaldo in the early stages and by the time they changed their tactics, the winger was unstoppable.

He would have put United in front had his superb 30-yard drive not come crashing back off a post with Jerzy Dudek well beaten.

Dudek was one of the few Liverpool players who performed to their potential in the opening period, which was just as well otherwise United would have been out of sight.

Van Nistelrooy, Gabriel Heinze and O'Shea all might have beaten the Pole but did not and United also had what appeared to be a certain penalty claim turned down when Sami Hyypia dragged van Nistelrooy back by the collar as the Dutchman attempted to reach Wes Brown's lay-off.

The succession of spurned chances meant Liverpool went into the interval with a vestige of hope, although that was tempered by the loss of Steven Gerrard with what appeared to be a nasty-looking foot injury.

Benitez clearly expressed some choice words at the break given the extra determination his side started the second period with.

Even so, it scarcely deserved the good fortune that brought Liverpool an equaliser that will surely go down in the record books as an O'Shea own goal.

Briefly, with Gerrard's replacement Dietmar Hamann winning his midfield battle with Roy Keane, Liverpool seized control and it was then Ferdinand came into his own, shoring up a United back four that might otherwise have crumbled.

Having switched wings with Ronaldo, Giggs set about emulating his young team-mate and it was one of his darts down the right flank that earned the disputed corner off Hyypia from which Silvestre powered home the winner.

Fergie applauds 'fantastic' Rio

After the match Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the performance of the returning Rio Ferdinand - then predicted the appearance of Wayne Rooney in Manchester United's next Old Trafford outing against Middlesbrough in a fortnight.

Ferdinand's return from his eight-month suspension coincided with one of the most convincing defensive displays United have produced so far this season.

Only an unfortunate John O'Shea own goal breached their rearguard tonight and thankfully for the hosts, two bullet-like Mikael Silvestre headers ensured Ferdinand could celebrate his comeback with a much-needed win.

'I thought Rio was absolutely superb and I don't expect there will be many people disagreeing with that,' said Ferguson.

'He has been out for eight months, yet he comes into a game against Liverpool and plays like that.

'He brings balance, composure and surety to our defence. He is just a fantastic player.

'I didn't think it was a risk to put him straight in the side because I have seen him train every day, which is a good measure of how he will go.'

With Ferdinand available again, Ruud van Nistelrooy reaching full match sharpness after his third outing of the season and Cristiano Ronaldo showing no ill-effects from his arduous summer, the United squad is starting to show its strength again.

Ferguson still has a few players to come back, notably Rooney, who has yet to make his debut since completing a £27million move from Everton at the end of last month.

The 18-year-old had a further scan today on the foot he broke in England's Euro 2004 defeat to Portugal this summer and the results were encouraging enough to allow the United boss to pencil in a debut date against Middlesbrough on October 3.

'It's going to be about two more weeks,' said Ferguson.

'Wayne will go back to see the specialist on Thursday but I think we are looking at the Middlesbrough game.

'By that time we should have Gary Neville and Louis Saha back and then you will start to see the strength of Manchester United.'

Even with the players he currently has available, Ferguson's men were too good for Liverpool, who were too timid in the opening half and were unable to capitalise on their fortunate leveller.

The visitors might complain that United were lucky to get the free-kick which Ryan Giggs swung over for Silvestre's first and that they should have had a goal-kick rather than concede a corner when Sami Hyypia was incorrectly ruled to have knocked the ball out of play in the build-up to the Frenchman's winner.

That would be to deny the superiority of United's play though, and Ferguson was accurate in his assessment that the hosts were deserved winners.

'Our first-half performance in particular was excellent,' said the Scot.

'We could have been three or four up at half-time and the only worry was that we hadn't capitalised on our chances.

'Their goal was a bit lucky but we didn't handle the situation well. Fortunately, we galvanised ourselves after that, got some tackles in and ended up with the win.'

Ferdinand's performance will have boosted England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson who is likely to be without Steven Gerrard for the next two World Cup games if a foot injury sustained in the first half at Old Trafford proves as serious as first feared.

Ferdinand described his delight after returning from his eight-month ban.
He said: 'It was just good to get back out there and playing after so long out. It was never going to be easy for me, physically and mentally it is all new again.

'But once I had got into it it was just a nice feeling to be back out on the pitch with the lads.

'But I needed some energy bars, maybe I was using up too much nervous energy, I needed some sugar intake and the physio brought round a little bar for me to chew on.

'It is something I have done before but especially in this game. But I enjoyed it, it was just fantastic to be back and the lads put their hearts and soul into winning this one.'

He added on Sky Sports: 'I am not looking back now, only forward and the future to make sure I just continue playing football now, which is what I love doing ever since I was a kid.

'I have never ever said that I did not accept responsibility for what happened when I missed the drugs test.

'I have held my hand up right from the start. I do not know where people have got the impression that I had done anything else.

'I have always said I am responsible for that, but the stuff that happened afterwards means that the next person this happens to, there will be no grey area. It will be black and white and he will get a ban straight away.

'I was punished by the FA, but that does not change my desire to play for England, that's a stupid question. I love playing for United and I love playing for England as well.

'But at the moment I am only thinking about playing for United, what comes afterwards is a bonus.'

2004-09-21T11:04:00.000+08:00

Benitez rocked by Gerrard injury

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could lose captain Steven Gerrard for up to two months after the England man was forced off with a foot injury during the defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Liverpool chief saw his side overpowered physically but his skipper limped out of the 2-1 defeat in the first half after injuring himself with no opponent near him.

Benitez said: 'Steven will have an X-ray but we are sure he has broken the metatarsal in the fifth bone of his left foot.

'It is very disappointing, it happened when he jarred his foot and there was no opponent near him. It is a blow to us because of the big games in Europe that we have coming up, but we have a good squad and we will have to cope without him.'

He added: 'We expect Steven to be out for between six to eight weeks.'

If the break is confirmed, Gerrard will be able to call on international team-mates David Beckham and Wayne Rooney for advice on how long to expect on the sidelines.

Both Beckham and Rooney have suffered similar injuries.

Gerrard confirmed the injury was not caused by an opponent.

He said: 'I just caught my foot in the turf, and don't know what happened really but I was all on my own.

'It will be disappointing if it is a break, but we will know more in the morning after the X-ray.

'I will try to remain positive whatever happens. It will be devastating if I am out for too long.

'As for the match, yes we are disappointed. We were a lot better second half but in the first half we were poor. And we have conceded two goals from set-pieces which is very annoying considering we have been working hard on that.

'They were both identical. The manager was not happy and the players too, we will have to do more work on that.'

He added: 'We have a few new lads but our last two performances had been very good. United played very well, this is a difficult place to come and we knew what to expect. But we cannot be too down because we have Norwich on Saturday and then another trip in Europe.'

Liverpool boss Benitez said he had not had chance to review the two incidents which led to United's goals - a debatable first-half free-kick and a corner which Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia insisted should have been a goal kick off Ryan Giggs.

Benitez said: 'I have not seen the incidents yet, if that is the case it is even more disappointing.

'We played well for only 15 minutes of the first half, even though we were much better after the break.

'But we conceded two goals from set-pieces and that is a problem we must work on. We zonal mark at corners and we have been using the system through all our games, pre-season as well, and it has worked well and we have not conceded from set-pieces.

'We knew how they would start the game, very physically. But it is a problem we must control, we must keep the ball better and not lose the battles we did.'

2004-09-21T03:52:00.000+08:00

Perez stands firm on Galactico policy

MADRID, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says the resignation of Jose Antonio Camacho will not make him rethink his Galactico recruitment policy.

'We have tried to put together a team that wins, that entertains and that is admired by hundreds of millions of people all over the world and that is what we are going to continue to do,' Perez told Radio Marca on Monday.

Camacho quit his post earlier in the day, saying he felt incapable of getting the most out of the club's expensively assembled squad.

Perez said that coaching a team that included some of the most high-profile players in world football such as David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane was a tricky task, but said that the players were not to blame for the team's poor early-season form.

'A squad as talented as Real Madrid's is always very difficult to manage,' he said. 'For that reason the job of a coach is to get the maximum out of the players, who are excellent professionals and not the spoilt children that some people claim.

'I'm going to talk to them to encourage them and to tell them that are millions of people around the world who follow what they do and that's why they need to push themselves to the limit. But it would be wrong to lay the blame at the door of the players.'

Perez claimed that Real had a duty to entertain their fans, whom he claimed would not accept a more pragmatic approach to the game.

'With all due respect to a team like Bayer Leverkusen, if Real played the way they did then no one would turn up at the ground,' he said.'

Leverkusen produced a stylish performance to crush Real 3-0 in their opening Champions League game last week.

2004-09-21T03:50:00.000+08:00

New Real coach confident of backing from players

MADRID, Sept 20 (Reuters) - New Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon is confident he will have the support of the players in his attempt to help the side recover from their disappointing start to the season.

"The players are hurt and their morale isn't high," Garcia Remon told a news conference after taking his first training session following Jose Antonio Camacho's decision to quit as coach earlier on Monday.

"I need the players' help and respect to turn this round and I'm sure I'll get it," Camacho's former assistant said.

Real Madrid players were greeted by a chorus of insults from some of the 50 or so fans that had gathered outside the Bernabeu as they arrived for the training session.

But Garcia Remon, a former goalkeeper at the club, appealed to the fans to lend their support to the team for his first match in charge of the side against Osasuna on Tuesday.

"I hope the fans just let the players express themselves on the pitch," he said. "I am worried that there might be signs of rejection towards the team against Osasuna and that would be a worrying sign.

"The players are ordinary people and are suffering because they know they are being criticised. It has nothing to do with how much they earn, what they've won or anything like that."

"Obviously I have to earn the confidence of the players, but I don't have a magic wand. It is the players who are the leading artists in this show," said Garcia Remon.

2004-09-21T03:45:00.000+08:00

UPDATE 4-Camacho quits as Real Madrid coach

(Updates with Perez comments on new coach paras 6 and 7)

By Simon Baskett

MADRID, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Jose Antonio Camacho resigned as Real Madrid coach on Monday four months after taking up the post saying that he felt incapable of getting the most out of the club's expensively assembled squad.

"I believe that the team has not lived up to expectations and that as long as I remain as coach it will not improve and that's why I've decided to step down," Camacho told a news conference at the Bernabeu.

"I've got my own way of behaving and of coaching. I did not see it reflected on the pitch and I could not see the situation improving.

"The president asked me if I thought I could turn things around in the short term and I told him that I did not, so we reached an agreement that in order to prevent the club entering into an even bigger crisis I would give up the post."

Club president Florentino Perez said that Camacho's former assistant Mariano Garcia Remon would take charge of the first team.

"Garcia Remon will be here the whole season and we hope for many more," Perez told Radio Marca. "It is not a temporary measure, because he fits perfectly into the culture of this club.

"With his appointment we have found a rapid solution to a situation that should not affect the aims of Real Madrid, because the institution is always the most important thing."

Garcia Remon, an ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper who won six league titles during his 14 seasons at the club between 1971 and 1985, is a former boss of Sporting Gijon and Numancia. He will be Real's fourth coach since June 2003.

Garcia Remon stressed that he had accepted the job only after Camacho had urged him to do so.
"It may seem odd, but for me today is a very sad day," he said. "It is a day that sees that the end of the work of someone who has done a very good job that just wasn't reflected on the pitch.
"It wasn't the way I dreamed of being here to train Real Madrid."

LOW PROFILE

Garcia Remon is very much in the mould of Vicente del Bosque, the man who led Real to two European Cups and two league titles in four seasons before being discarded at the end of the 2002-2003 season.

Camacho was appointed as coach in place of Carlos Queiroz after the failure of Real - with players like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham - to win a trophy last season.
It is the second time he has made a premature exit from the club he served so loyally as a player.

He managed only 23 days in the post in 1998, quitting before the season had even started after a row with then president Lorenzo Sanz about a contract for fitness trainer Carlos Lorenzana.

Real ended last season with a worst-ever five-match losing streak. This season they successfully got through the qualifying round of the Champions League, then scraped two disappointing 1-0 wins in their first two Primera Liga games.

They suffered a stinging 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday and then turned in an appalling performance to lose 1-0 at Espanyol on Saturday.

Camacho offered his resignation to Perez following the defeat at Espanyol, saying he felt incapable of carrying on because he did not enjoy the support of the players, a number of whom are reported to have resented his disciplinarian approach.

"I can't take anymore," was Spanish sports daily Marca's reported version of the conversation that took place between Camacho and Perez.

"I can see that there is no rapport with the squad. I had great hopes about this job but they haven't been realised."

2004-09-21T03:39:00.000+08:00

Man Utd v Liverpool: Preview

John O'Shea has warned Manchester United supporters not to expect miracles from returning hero Rio Ferdinand against Liverpool.

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to waste little time in restoring his record 29million defender to the Red Devils starting line-up following the end of his eight-month ban.

With six points from five Premiership games and a 10-point gap to close on champions Arsenal, the long-serving United boss knows victory is essential in Monday night's Old Trafford crunch.
Given the only defender Ferguson included among the three men who matched his lofty expectations in Lyon on Wednesday was Gabriel Heinze, it would be a major surprise if the Scot didn't turn to Ferdinand to bale him out of a crisis.

O'Shea is expected to be alongside Ferdinand in the United rearguard as Rafael Benitez arrives for his first experience of the fierce north-west rivalry and while the young Irishman believes the surge of adrenalin his team-mate is bound to feel should get him through the 90 minutes, he has cautioned against expectations being raised too high.

"I am sure the adrenalin rush will get Rio through the game without a problem but we shouldn't expect miracles from him," he said.

"He has done a lot of fitness work but that isn't the same as playing matches and while I don't think it will be long before he gets his form back, it is bound to take a little bit of time.

"I think this has probably been the longest week of his life because he is so close now.

"He can see the games in front of us at United and the World Cup matches for England and that probably reminds him what he missed out on. Hopefully he will get rid of that frustration by playing out of his skin."

Ferguson must also make a major decision over his goalkeeper after Tim Howard followed up his mistake against Bolton with a similar blunder in France.

Liverpool, of course, will be without their lucky charm this time around.

Danny Murphy, who has scored the winner in three of the last four Liverpool trips to Old Trafford, has been sold to Charlton.

Chris Kirkland will be sitting on the bench - at last able to put pressure on unconvincing keeper Jerzy Dudek.

Kirkland came through a reserve game unscathed last week and boss Rafael Benitez says it is "too early" for him to return to the first team.

But any repeats of Dudek's shaky form against Monaco last week or another of his gaffs against Manchester United, and the youngster could be back in the side.

Benitez has no major injury problems although young striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle has picked up an ankle problem.

2004-09-21T03:28:00.000+08:00

Ferdinand returns for United

Rio Ferdinand returned to the Manchester United starting line-up for the first time in eight months tonight.

Ferdinand's last appearance in a United shirt was against Wolves at Molineux last January; 32 games, an FA Cup final and a European Championship ago.

Given the Red Devils' disappointing defensive displays so far this season, the return of the world's costliest defender was virtually automatic, especially as the 29million Londoner has excelled during recent training sessions.

'Some people might think I should have given Rio a warm-up game, perhaps with the reserves, but I had not the slightest hesitation throwing him in at the deep end and nor would you if you had the advantage of seeing him in training during his long absence on the sidelines,' said Sir Alex Ferguson in his programme notes this evening.

'If you could have watched his focus, you would know, like me, that the man is geared to come straight back into the side, even for a match as big as this fixture.'

Ferdinand's return meant John O'Shea moved into midfield with Wes Brown switching to right-back from centre-half, leaving Mikael Silvestre to partner the newcomer.

There was no sign of Wayne Rooney among the substitutes even though it is believed he was given the all-clear to step up his training following a check-up on his long-standing foot injury today.

And neither was Tim Howard among the substitutes either as Ferguson axed the American completely with Roy Carroll taking the starting slot.

Man Utd: Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Keane, Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Phil Neville, Smith, Kleberson, Fletcher, Ricardo.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Finnan, Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell, Luis Garcia, Cisse. Subs: Baros, Diao, Hamann, Traore, Kirkland.

2004-09-21T03:27:00.000+08:00

600-UP FOR GIGGS

RYAN GIGGS will become the third player in Manchester United history to make 600 appearances when he lines up against Liverpool tonight.

Giggs made his league debut during the 1990/91 season and follows Bobby Charlton (759 games) and Bill Foulkes (688) in the club's roll of honour.

"It's a marvellous achievement. He's had almost 15 years in the first team, which is a lot. It's amazing," said manager Sir Alex Ferguson. "He's a fantastic person who has never given me a bit of bother. He's an example to all the players here."

Wales international Giggs, 30, has won 14 major honours during his time as a United player, including a Champions League winners' medal in 1999 and eight Premiership titles.

2004-09-21T03:25:00.000+08:00

REAL CONFIRM CAMACHO EXIT

Real Madrid today confirmed they had accepted coach Jose Antonio Camacho's offer of resignation.

The under-fire boss offered to step down yesterday evening following the Spanish giant's poor start to the season.

Real president Florentino Perez announced the news that the club had accepted the 49-year-old's decision at a press conference this afternoon.

Assistant coach Mariano Garcia Remon is to take temporary charge of first-team affairs until the club decides upon a permanent successor.

The final straw for Camacho came after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Espanyol on Saturday, which followed on from a midweek 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

The former Benfica and Sapin coach's reign comes to an end after just four months in the Bernabeu hotseat.

It was the Camacho's second spell as Madrid boss, following an even shorter 22-day spell in 1998, which ended after a bust-up with the club's board.

Real Madrid have three English players on their books - David Beckham, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.

2004-09-16T15:01:00.000+08:00

Ferguson praises record-breaking Ruud

Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to record-breaking striker Ruud van Nistelrooy after the brilliant Dutchman rescued a Champions League point for Manchester United in Lyon.

Ferguson claimed only three of his players performed to the standard required at the Stade Garland and fortunately one of them was van Nistelrooy, who, on only his second outing since a hernia operation, scored the second-half brace which levelled up Lyon's two-goal interval lead.

The double saw the former PSV striker surpass Denis Law as the most prolific European marksman in United history and Ferguson is expecting his star forward to add many more to his current 30-goal tally.

'We all know Ruud is a fantastic goalscorer,' said Ferguson.

'He has broken records already and will continue to do so.

'But his greatest achievement tonight was to play almost a full game, take a number of challenges, some of which were really unfair, and also score two goals.

'Having not played any real football in almost four months, that was a remarkable feat in itself.'

Ferguson admitted van Nistelrooy's efforts left him a relieved man after a particularly inept opening period left United on the brink of defeat.

Only van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze will be exempt from criticism when the Scot begins the post-mortem and changes for Monday's key Premiership clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford seem inevitable.

Rio Ferdinand is certain to return to shore up a defence which looked ill at ease throughout the game, while another major blunder by Tim Howard is likely to condemn him to a stint on the bench as deputy to Roy Carroll.

'You cannot ignore what happened in the first-half,' said Ferguson. 'I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I did that.

'I was terribly disappointed at half-time with some elements of our game. We had to change and in fairness to the team, they did play with more intent.

'Our defenders also started to go and win the ball much earlier and didn't allow their strikers to dominate.

'Overall, my feeling is one of relief because when you are 2-0 down at half-time in Europe you know you have a difficult task to get something out of it.'

Howard's error, just four days after his previous mistake at Bolton, gifted Lyon their opener.

The American spilled Juninho's long-range free-kick straight into the path of Cris, who wasted no time in tapping home from close range.

When Pierre Frau finished off a lightning counter to double Lyon's lead shortly before the interval, the three-times French champions must have thought their job was done.

They reckoned without United's famous fighting spirit, although, as coach Paul le Guen pointed out, the comeback should have come as no surprise.

'That is the nature of Manchester United,' he said. 'Against them, you know you are never really safe.

'It is frustrating because it was probably our best performance during my time at the club.
'But clearly, van Nistelrooy is one of the best strikers in the world - his statistics prove it.

'Even though it was only his second match back, he was a permanent danger tonight.'

2004-09-16T15:00:00.000+08:00

Zidane ruled out for three weeks

LEVERKUSEN, Germany, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane will be sidelined for around three weeks after dislocating his right shoulder during his side's 3-0 Champions League defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

Zidane sustained the injury when he jumped to challenge Leverkusen defender Roque Junior for the ball in the final minutes of the first half, Real said on their website.

The Frenchman, who was replaced by striker Fernando Morientes at halftime, is almost certain miss Real's next Champions League game at home to AS Roma on September 28.

2004-09-16T14:59:00.000+08:00

Leverkusen 3-0 Real Madrid

LEVERKUSEN, September 15 (Champions League) - Real Madrid's defensive frailties
resurfaced in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night as they were comprehensively beaten by Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.

New Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho's priority when taking over in the summer was to strengthen the back four and Argentinian international Walter Samuel was handed his debut in Germany.

But it mattered little as the visitors were repeatedly opened up by a Leverkusen side whose ambition and creativity seemed to surprise Madrid.

Jacek Krzynowek opened the scoring in the 39th minute and goals early in the second half from Franca and Dimitar Berbatov settled the issue.

Leverkusen started in determined fashion and Bulgarian striker Berbatov almost gave Klaus Augenthaler's men an early lead with an effort which crashed back off the post with Madrid keeper Iker Casillas well beaten.

Brazilian striker Franca, Krzynowek and Carsten Ramelow were all allowed time and space to get in shots in the opening stages although they failed to trouble the over-exposed Casillas.

Madrid had to wait 14 minutes for an effort on goal and, even then, Luis Figo's low drive flew wide of Hans-Jorg Butt's upright.

At least Figo's foray forward provided evidence that the visitors had stepped up a gear.

And that was confirmed when Ronaldo crashed a shot against the bar in the 26th minute after making a late burst into the box to connect with a Michel Salgado cross from the right.

Leverkusen were still a threat, however, and Franca, who scored a hat-trick in the home leg of the third qualifying round tie against Banik Ostrava, should have done better than fire over the bar when well placed.

Krzynowek also missed the target with a far post header as Leverkusen re-asserted their superiority.

It came as no real surprise when the home side took the lead six minutes before the break.

The Madrid defence only managed to clear a corner as far as the edge of the box and the impressive Krzynowek hammered it back with interest, giving Casillas no chance.

Berbatov almost made it two in two minutes with a towering header from a Robson Ponte cross which was deflected just wide as Madrid lost their composure at the back.

Krzynowek tested Casillas again as the interval approached with another long-range drive which the Spain international did well to tip over the bar.

Needing a goal and lacking inspiration, the last thing Madrid needed was an injury to talisman Zinedine Zidane but the former French international had to be replaced at half-time through injury.

Fernando Morientes, last season's top scorer in the Champions League, came on but was a mere spectator as Madrid collapsed at the other end.

Leverkusen moved 2-0 ahead after 50 minutes - Franca firing home from the edge of the area after David Beckham had allowed him space to get in a shot.

The goal seemed to deflate Madrid and the Bundesliga side took full advantage five minutes later.

Franca whipped in a cross which Francisco Pavon could only head up into the air, deceiving the unfortunate Casillas, leaving Berbatov to tap into the empty net.

At 3-0 down, Camacho obviously decided enough was enough and decided to withdraw two of his most creative players - Figo and Ronaldo - in an act which seemed to demonstrate he had accepted defeat.

Leverkusen were happy to sit on their lead and with Madrid lacking purpose and desire, the game petered out.

Beckham tested Butt in the closing stages but it was a night to forget for the England captain and his team-mates.

Camacho takes responsibility

Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho said he was to blame after his team started their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

"I take responsibility for this because I was obviously not able to make sure my players approached this game with the right attitude," said Camacho.

He was hired by Real to help them bounce back from a disappointing season featuring a quarter-final exit from the Champions League.

Real, who beat Leverkusen 2-1 in the 2002 final in Glasgow, were never in contention on Wednesday and looked ordinary despite the presence on the pitch of all their top players.

"We were outplayed for 60 minutes," said Camacho, whose men started the Spanish league season with two unconvincing 1-0 wins.

"Only in the last 30 minutes did we manage to put them under pressure. Leverkusen played with plenty of enthusiasm. They were clearly the better team."

ZIDANE INJURED

The defeat was not the only bad news for Camacho, who had to substitute playmaker Zinedine Zidane at halftime because of a dislocated shoulder that could leave the inspirational French midfielder sidelined for three weeks.

Leverkusen, who have never won a German title and had warmed up for the game with a 2-0 defeat at promoted Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday, delighted their fans with a stylish performance.

"I hope my players are now convinced that they can play good football," said coach Klaus Augenthaler.

Leverkusen captain Carsten Ramelow said facing such prestigious opponents had helped Leverkusen raise their game.

"Just the name Real Madrid was a motivation," said Ramelow, who played in the 2002 final. "Our victory is well deserved and so is the winning margin," he added.

Germany midfielder Bernd Schneider, who has been given a new role as right-back by Augenthaler, promised Leverkusen would not get carried away.

"We are not the new Galacticos," he said. "If we were we would have beaten Mainz."

2004-09-16T14:55:00.000+08:00

Lyon 2-2 Man Utd: FT Report

Record-breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy dragged Manchester United back from the brink of a Champions League disaster as they grabbed a 2-2 draw in Lyon.

In only his second appearance of the season, the brilliant Dutchman established himself above Denis Law as the most prolific European goalscorer in United history with a two-goal salvo that rescued a Red Devils side that seemed to be spinning to certain defeat.

Trailing to first-half efforts from Cris and Pierre Frau, van Nistelrooy, ably assisted by dazzling Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, dragged his team back into the game in five stunning minutes after the interval.

First Ronaldo dug out a cross that allowed van Nistelrooy to steer a low header past Gregory Coupet, his 29th European goal, one more than the legendary Law.

There were no celebrations from the former PSV man just then. Instead, he waited until Ronaldo's attempted shot had deflected into his path off Anthony Reveillere, offering the time and space to beat Coupet for a second time.

It was not quite `Barcelona 99' but for a side badly lacking in confidence after a wretched start to the season, it was still a significant achievement and one Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt hope can be carried into his side's Premiership campaign, where they have already fallen nine points adrift of Arsenal.

Loyalty has been always been one of the fundamental traits of Ferguson's managerial career and the Scot has steadfastly refused to betray the men who have consistently let him down over the past 12 months.

Tim Howard was taken out of the firing line following the monumental last-minute error against Porto that cost United their place in last season's competition but the American was back in the side long before United lifted the FA Cup in Cardiff last May.

Ferguson's faith also endured his goalkeeper's blunder at Bolton on Saturday, with the Scot quick to confirm the former Major League Soccer star would be part of his starting line-up.

When Howard bravely rushed out to block Florent Malouda's attempt to steer Wiltord's through-ball into the net midway through the opening period, Ferguson's selection policy looked to be a wise one. Nine minutes from the interval, it was exposed as pure folly.

Howard could justifiably point to the number of bodies in a crowded penalty area as a partial excuse for his failure to collect Juninho's long-range free-kick but, given he got a clean hold on the ball before he dropped it straight into Cris' path, the blame was still firmly his.

It was a goal which would probably have come much earlier had Lyon not continually over-elaborated when they got anywhere near the United box.

Rio Ferdinand would have been suspended from this game anyway without the eight-month ban which runs out in time for him to face Liverpool on Monday but how Ferguson must lament the England defender's lengthy absence.

United's creaky rearguard was rocking from the opening minutes, with only Gabriel Heinze looking the part and even he was treading on thin ice after incurring a ninth-minute booking for his clattering foul on Sidney Govou.

In addition to Malouda's saved effort, Cacapa headed narrowly wide from Juninho's corner and Frau came close to netting Wiltord's low cross.

Badly outgunned in midfield, United mustered little in response. A poor Ryan Giggs effort from a Roy Keane cross was the best they could manage as van Nistelrooy's chronic lack of match fitness was highlighted by his failure to latch onto an excellent Paul Scholes through-ball.

The second goal was therefore in no way flattering to a Lyon side, although Ferguson might wonder why three of his players stopped immediately in front of the dugout from which he watched unhappily, appealing in vain for a free-kick in favour of Ronaldo as Frau finished off a lightning counter-attack by smashing Wiltord's square pass beyond a stranded Howard.

As United trooped back down the tunnel with their heads bowed, it seemed another sorry European evening was in store. Instead, through van Nistelrooy, they produced one of those rousing comebacks for which they are so famous.

Even so, there should have been a sting in the tail for the visitors as Nilmar contrived to volley wide from barely a yard with the goal at his mercy before Juninho struck the base of a post with the last kick of the game.

But given the character they had showed to launch their second half fightback, United deserved that bit of luck.

2004-09-14T23:36:00.000+08:00

DRY YOUR EYES, DAD

Becks' tears on Brooklyn's first day at Madrid school

By Gerard Couzens

THERE were plenty of tears as Brooklyn Beckham arrived for the first day at his new school yesterday... and many of them were shed by his daddy.

The five-year-old started crying as David took his boy's rucksack and carried him into the exclusive school in Madrid.

And, just like his eldest son, the England skipper couldn't control his emotions, wiping away tears as he waved Brooklyn goodbye.

But it was an entirely different story just a few hours later when Victoria took younger brother Romeo along to collect Brooklyn, who emerged beaming after his first day.

Earlier in the morning, a crowd of parents and onlookers had watched the tense-looking Beckhams arrive with Brooklyn.

One said: "Everyone at the school knew Brooklyn was starting, but it was still a sight. Three cars carrying the Beckhams and their minders turned into the road just before 9am.

"David put Brooklyn's satchel on his back and walked hand-in-hand with him towards the school gates surrounded by bodyguards. It was all too much for the youngster and as he turned round to say goodbye to his mum who had stayed in one of the cars, he burst into tears.

"David carried him in his arms through the gates, but the emotion must have got to him too. He had tears in his eyes as he left and put a hand to his face to stop himself from crying."

When his parents finally left, two bodyguards stayed at the school to guard Brooklyn. Posh and Becks live in fear of him being kidnapped and ordered the minders to stay on the premises all day to keep a close eye on their son.

AN insider said: "The headmaster has talked with David and Victoria and they've decided that as much as possible they'll stay away and let the bodyguards take Brooklyn to and from school so the fuss is kept to a minimum.

"But they couldn't resist taking Brooklyn to school on his first day."

At 1,300pounds-a-term for pupils of Brooklyn's age, the college is the most expensive English language school in Madrid and just a short drive from the Beckhams' new 3.5million home.

They pay another 1,000pounds a year so Brooklyn can have lunch there. Security at the school - including CCTV cameras - has been substantially beefed up within the last year.

Most British children who attend the college are the sons and daughters of diplomats and executives for multinationals. Former pupils include Rebecca Loos, who claimed to have had an affair with the England captain.

Brooklyn is in a mixed class of 20 children. The 300 pupils - aged five to 18 - follow the UK curriculum and take GCSEs and A-levels.

Posh's decision to send Brooklyn to the school is a clear sign she is making good on her promise to move to the Spanish capital.

It follows fresh reports that the Beckhams' marriage is in crisis. On Sunday, they talked for nearly four hours over a late lunch in a private room at the Ritz Hotel in Madrid.

At least yesterday the tears ended in smiles

2004-09-04T15:25:00.000+08:00

England still a world power - Eriksson

Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted England are still a power in world football despite failing to live up to expectations at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

But he admitted they lack the mentality to be able to emulate the disciplined style of play employed by Greece to earn them European Championship glory in Portugal this summer.

The belief in the England squad that it was their time to add to the success of 1966 proved unfounded with heart-breaking quarter-final exits in the last two major tournaments.

Now all eyes will be on Eriksson to justify that faith when England launch another World Cup campaign with away qualifiers in Austria on Saturday and Poland next Wednesday.

Anything less than two comprehensive victories is unlikely to be looked upon kindly by a footballing public which had barely recovered from the disappointment of Euro 2004 before Eriksson's private life dominated the headlines.

But Eriksson's own confidence in his squad is unwavering as they begin the countdown to the 2006 finals in Germany via what should be a comfortable ride through the qualifiers.

He said: 'Are we a world football power still? If you talk about England in other countries, I am sure the respect is huge for England, much more than it is in England especially in the media.

'The days of being a big football nation are not over. Absolutely not. We are a big football nation. We reached the quarter-finals twice in two big tournaments.

'We lost by nothing more or less. We lost two quarter-finals in Japan and Portugal. We were almost there.

'We lost 2-1 to Brazil in Japan and then a penalty shoot-out in Portugal so the difference between us and the best teams in Europe and the world is very little.

'Before that we had beaten teams like Argentina and Germany over the past two or three years and got a crucial draw in Turkey.

'If you look at those results, and then people still say we are not a big footballing country. then I can't agree to that.

'During the serious games, the real games, we have done a lot of good results - although some bad ones as well unfortunately.'

Eriksson is refusing to discuss the scenario which would face him if England slip up in either of these opening two matches as he stressed his hunger for the job was as strong as ever despite coming under the FA spotlight for his off the field behaviour.

He said: 'I still have the same passion and determination for the job. I am looking forward to Saturday and Wednesday when we start serious football games.

'Friendlies are always serious but now it is more serious to count the points and to qualify for the World Cup. My dream is to play in a big final in a big tournament and hopefully win it.

'People ask what will be the situation if we lose tomorrow. I never understood why the day before a game they should talk about losing and playing badly. I can't put that into my head.

'If something like that should happen, you have to decide what to say and what to do after the game. But talking about `if we lose, if we play badly' now is something I refuse to do it.

'My attitude is to `take the problems when they come up - and don't try to resolve problems which might never happen'.

As for winning over the fans and playing with style, Eriksson said: 'If we win football games, that's the only answer I can have and hopefully we can do that.

'Every football manager in the world I know is working to try and win games and to try to play good football.

'Sometimes you don't win, sometimes you don't play good football but it's not like I say to the players `Let's go and play bad football and have the three points'.

'Of course, we try to play as good football as is possible - defending well, attacking well but the biggest problem in football is that there are 11 men on the other side!

'We will never use the organisation that Greece used because we are not used to it and it is not in the English mentality so we can never do that. Hopefully we can do the same result.'

2004-09-04T15:23:00.000+08:00

Beckham out to prove he's a hard centre

David Beckham has vowed to emulate his idol Bryan Robson in leading by example as England captain if he is asked to replace Steven Gerrard at the heart of Sven-Goran Eriksson's midfield tomorrow.

Gerrard has been rated at 50-50 to start the opening World Cup qualifier in Austria because of a groin injury.

While the Liverpool midfielder has not yet given up all hope of playing in Vienna, Eriksson has promised not to take any risks, especially with another qualifier in Poland next Wednesday.

Gerrard was walking gingerly as he arrived to watch this afternoon's training session before being led away for further treatment.

In his absence, Beckham was duly moved into central midfield alongside Frank Lampard, with Shaun Wright-Phillips on standby for his first senior start on the right flank.

And in what would be an adventurous new-look line-up, Wayne Bridge is in pole position to start on the left side of midfield for the first time in almost two years.

Beckham said: 'Obviously we hope Steve is fit, but I do play in that central role for Real Madrid and I feel comfortable there.

'I want to lead by example as captain, like Bryan Robson in fighting for every ball. Even if I'm not playing well or scoring free-kicks, I still work hard.'

Eriksson will see how Gerrard responds to treatment before making a final decision on his fitness at lunchtime tomorrow, although the initial signs are not too encouraging.

'I'm a little bit concerned about Steven as it's 50-50 whether he plays or not,' revealed Eriksson.
'If we think the injury could get worse by him playing, then he will not play. It wouldn't be fair on him, England or Liverpool.

'Whatever happens, we are quite sure he will be ready for Wednesday's game.'

While Michael Owen has recently admitted covering up the scale of his injury problems ahead of England's 2002 World Cup quarter-final against Brazil, Eriksson will trust in Gerrard's judgement.

'If you are playing a World Cup quarter-final, it's different as you have a lot of time to recover after the tournament,' he said.

The England coach is still keen to have Gerrard available, just like his other key players - Owen and Beckham - admitting that even at 90% 'I can't find anyone better than them'.

However, if the Liverpool captain is ruled out, then he will ask Beckham to assume his normal club position in the centre instead of turning to Owen Hargreaves.

'David likes it in the middle and he looks more and more natural. If you can play there for Real Madrid, I have no doubts you can do it for England,' he observed.

Beckham is ready for the increased responsibility, especially in a side requiring his leadership skills if Gerrard joins Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes on the sidelines.

'I've always said I like having responsibility and since I've been given the captaincy, I feel I've handled it pretty well,' he said.

'Sometimes the extra responsibility actually makes you play better and I feel that happens for me. Hopefully I can do that in this game if there's more on me.'

The pressure would also be on Wright-Phillips, 22, who made his England debut as a substitute in the friendly against Ukraine but scored a superb solo goal.

However, Eriksson insisted: 'I believe he's ready to play for England in a qualification game. If I didn't think that, he wouldn't be in the squad.'

Up front Alan Smith is expected to partner Michael Owen in the absence of Wayne Rooney, while John Terry and Ledley King form a relatively inexperienced central defensive partnership.

However, Beckham will take centre stage if Gerrard is ruled out - just a couple of months after being criticised for his lack of impact at the Euro 2004 finals.

'If you're a high-profile player in a competition, you get criticised when you drop just a bit below your high standards,' he said.

'You can either go into your shell and not perform again or fight back. My mentality is to fight back and to prove to people I can still play good football.'

2004-09-04T15:22:00.000+08:00

Beckham still believes

David Beckham insisted his belief in his ability to win a major trophy with England remains as strong as ever despite their quarter-final exits at the past two tournaments.

Beckham, 29, accepts this is likely to be his final chance to lift the World Cup as he will be 35 by the time of the tournament in 2010.

However, despite admitting England had not lived up to expectations this summer, he has still kept faith in their ability to triumph in Germany in two years' time.

'Maybe my legs will keep going for a few years more, but maybe this will be my last World Cup and the last chance to win something at a competition as big as that,' accepted Beckham.

'I'd still like to believe that I can win something with my country. Of course if I get to the end of my career and I haven't, I'd be disappointed.

'I wouldn't see it as a failure as I've done so much and won so much in my career. But it would be one thing missing.'

England have reached the quarter-finals in Japan and Portugal only to lose to a side managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari on each occasion.

Ahead of tomorrow's start of the World Cup qualifying campaign in Austria, that has evidently raised question marks as to whether this squad are good enough to get past the last-eight stage.

'I suppose it's a fair question as we haven't gone as far in the past two competitions as we were expected to or had said we could,' observed Beckham.

'With the talent we've got in the team, we should get further in competitions but hopefully it will be our year in 2006. We go into this competition believing that we can do it.'

Asked if past experiences had shaken his belief, Beckham insisted: 'Not at all. I'm not lying when I sit here and say that I believe we can win a competition.

'I believe we can and that we have the squad to. We haven't yet, but I hope the World Cup will be the time.

'We can make it different this time. Hopefully we can go all the way in this one.

'We don't like making excuses as, if you get knocked out of a competition, then you're going to get criticised and we understand that.

'You do need a certain amount of luck, but the strength of the squad is very good and it's a very young squad and it's an exciting time.'

2004-09-04T01:42:00.000+08:00

Austria v England: Preview

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is putting his faith in an England side peppered with reserves when their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign opens in Austria on Saturday.

The game at the Ernst Happel stadium is the start of a double-header which takes England to Chorzow, Poland next Wednesday as they bid to rack up two quick wins in Group Six.

Top of the list of absentees is teenage striker Wayne Rooney, who has just completed a 27 million pound ($48.40 million) move from Everton to Manchester United despite still being sidelined after breaking a bone in his foot at Euro 2004.

The 18-year-old's four goals propelled England to the quarter-finals, while his injury during their defeat by Portugal was probably the biggest reason for their exit.

Rooney's place alongside Michael Owen up front should go to Alan Smith, who is blossoming in his debut season at Manchester United, scoring five goals in his first seven games.

Eriksson also has problems in midfield, where the retirement of Smith's club team mate Paul Scholes from international football has deprived Eriksson of his most inspired playmaker.

Nicky Butt, expected to return to the base of a midfield diamond after missing out at Euro 2004, is unavailable for Saturday, while Steven Gerrard pulled up in Thursday's training session with an apparently minor groin problem.

If he shrugs off the setback, Gerrard will partner Frank Lampard in central midfield, with skipper David Beckham on the right and a vacant slot on the left that could well go to Joe Cole ahead of Wayne Bridge or Kieron Dyer.

MISSING TRIO

A scare over Gerrard was the last thing Eriksson needed before flying to Austria as he is already missing three central defenders - Sol Campbell, Jonathan Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand - through either injury or suspension.

John Terry and youngster Ledley King, who impressed in England's 2-1 defeat by France at Euro 2004, should cope with the frontal assault, flanked by Ashley Cole and Gary Neville.

Judging by Austria's 3-1 defeat to a modest Germany side in Vienna last month, that assault should not give Terry and King nightmares.

Ranked 90th in the world when fully fit, Austria will be missing two first-choice midfielders in Martin Amerhauser, who scored against Germany, and Markus Schopp.

Striker Eduard Glieder will be the one to watch up front, with Eriksson's men needing to be more attentive to dead-ball situations than they were at Euro 2004.

On paper, England clearly have the strength in depth to see off an Austria side whose aim over the next year is more realistically to try and beat Wales to the runners-up slot, thereby booking themselves into the playoffs.

Probable teams:

Austria: Thomas Mandl; Joachim Standfest, Martin Stranzl, Martin Hiden, Emanuel Pogatetz; Gernot Sick, Dietmar Kuehbauer, Rene Aufhauser, Andreas Ivanschitz; Eduard Glieder, Roland Kollmann

England: David James; Gary Neville, John Terry, Ledley King, Ashley Cole; David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole; Alan Smith, Michael Owen.

2004-09-04T01:15:00.000+08:00

UNITED SIDE HARDER TO GET INTO THAN ENGLAND SAYS WAYNE ROONEY

By David Mcdonnell

WAYNE ROONEY believes it will be harder to hold down a place with new club Manchester United than with England.

Since making his international debut 18 months ago, Rooney has established himself as an automatic choice up front for England and was the country's star player at Euro 2004.

But the 30million teenage striker admitted he faces an even bigger challenge to hold down a place at United with competition from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alan Smith and Louis Saha.

"This will be the biggest battle I have ever faced," said Rooney. "It's going to be tough because Ruud, Alan and Louis are all top players.

"It will be difficult to get in and difficult to keep your place as well. If you have one bad game you could be out. You have to be on top of your game.

"I think it will be more difficult holding on to your place possibly than for England.

"With England you are only playing once a month, if that, but here at United it will be non-stop. You can't afford to let your form slip.

"With four international strikers here fighting for two places you have to take your chance when it comes along.

"I know the United fans are going to be expecting a lot from me. But I believe I am capable of giving them what they want.

"I don't have any fears about the challenge. Playing for England has helped me to cope with all this. The pressures are similar."

Rooney's new strike partners all started their United careers with debut goals in competitive matches and the 18-year-old former Everton star hopes he can do the same.

A scan on Rooney's broken foot yesterday revealed the fracture has healed, leaving him on course to make his United debut against Liverpool at Old Trafford on September 20, the same day as van Nistelrooy is scheduled to return from injury and Rio Ferdinand is free of suspension.
"If I could score a goal in my first few games then I think that would help me settle a lot," said Rooney.

"Once you get your first goal it takes a little bit of the pressure off you. I experienced that with Everton and England. My confidence built up and you want to score every day after that.

"I know everyone will judge me on my goals, but I like to link up, bring players into the game and set them up.

"There is a lot to my game other than scoring goals but I want to get as many as I can."

Rooney has been welcomed to United by fellow teenager Cristiano Ronaldo, who has forgiven his new team-mate for a tackle which could have broken the Portuguese winger's leg. Rooney was lucky to stay on the pitch during Everton's trip to Old Trafford on Boxing Day last year after launching himself at Ronaldo with a wild lunge that earned him a booking.

But Ronaldo, 19, insisted there were no hard feelings and looked forward to linking up with Rooney.

"I remember that tackle very well," said Ronaldo. "But these things happen in football and I have no negative feelings towards Wayne.

"He is a great player and I can't wait to start playing with him."

2004-09-04T01:14:00.000+08:00

Henry almost retired after Euro flop

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has admitted he considered retiring from international football after France's disappointing exit from Euro 2004.

The holders were beaten by eventual winners Greece at the quarter-final stage in Portugal.

Zinedine Zidane, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu and Lilian Thuram all called time on their international careers afterwards.

And Henry, who won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 1998, admitted it was something which also crossed his mind.

'I thought about leaving after our disappointing performance at the European Championship, but it didn't last long and I brushed aside the idea,' he said.

France open their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign against Israel in Paris tomorrow.

And Henry, 27, is looking forward to leading a new generation of French stars under coach Raymond Domenech.

'I don't feel tired. There is a new generation coming up and there is a new squad to build up. I want to be part of this story,' added Henry.

'France need to get back to winning ways and the sooner the better. We badly need a string of wins now.'

2004-09-04T01:13:00.000+08:00

Rugby-Woodward's resignation as England coach accepted

LONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Clive Woodward has handed in his resignation as England coach and it has been accepted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), an RFU statement said on Thursday.

Andy Robinson, Woodward's former assistant, takes over as acting head coach of the world champions.

"I have today handed in a letter to RFU chief executive Francis Baron informing him that I am resigning my post as England Head Coach," Woodward said in a statement.

"This has been accepted. I informed Francis yesterday that I was happy to stay for the test matches in the autumn but in discussion with him it was agreed that it would make for a smoother transition of coaching and management responsibility if I withdrew from the Head Coach position with immediate effect."

Woodward, who led England to victory in the World Cup final against Australia last November, will explain his reasons for quitting in a news conference at Twickenham at 0800 GMT on Friday.

Woodward, a former England and British Lions centre, had a meeting with the RFU on Wednesday following newspaper speculation that he wanted to move into soccer coaching. He left the meeting saying he was going to resign but, following a second meeting, he said he was still England coach.

The situation has now been resolved and Woodward continues to be linked with Premier League soccer club Southampton, who are without a manager. Their chairman Rupert Lowe has not denied he may be looking to involve Woodward in the club's coaching set-up.

Woodward signed a contract last year to lead England to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He has also been appointed coach for next year's British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Robinson has been placed in charge for an interim period, which will include the November tests against Canada, South Africa and Australia.

"I made it very clear to the RFU and Clive that my wish was for him stay on as Head Coach," Robinson said.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Clive over the last four years with England and would personally like to congratulate him on the success he has achieved in leading England to the World Cup and as the number one team in the world," Robinson added.

"However, I have now been offered an opportunity which I have accepted and I'm looking forward to England's first training session on September 20."

2004-09-04T01:12:00.000+08:00

Guti gives Owen a Raul warning

Real Madrid midfielder Guti believes Michael Owen still has a lot to prove if he wants to dislodge Raul from the team on a permanent basis.

Raul's regular spot in Madrid's starting line-up has come under question following his recent poor performances for club and country.

And Owen's arrival in the Spanish capital has opened up a debate on whether coach Jose Antonio Camacho should use the former Liverpool striker instead of the Spanish international.

'Owen is a player who has just arrived at the club, who still has to adapt, and we still have to see if he will score the same goals he did for Liverpool at Madrid,' said Guti.

'He (Owen) is a great player but he still has a lot to prove at Real Madrid if he wants to play and place Raul on the bench.'

Guti cannot understand the criticism currently directed at the Real Madrid skipper.

'Raul is the captain, the soul of this team,' said Guti.

'When he netted 20 goals and was the highest scorer no-one said anything, now that he is going through a bad patch, people criticise him.'

2004-09-04T01:11:00.000+08:00

Beckham ready to fill Gerrard's England boots

By Trevor Huggins

VIENNA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - England captain David Beckham is ready to step into Steven Gerrard's central midfield role for the World Cup Group Six qualifier in Austria on Saturday.

Gerrard is doubtful with a groin injury but Beckham told a news conference on Friday he would be happy to tuck in from his usual England role on the right to fill the gap.

"I usually play in centre midfield for my club Real Madrid and it's a position I'm confident and comfortable in," he said.

Beckham said England could also cover for striker Wayne Rooney, one of their best performers at Euro 2004 but sidelined since the tournament with a foot injury.

"We have Jermain Defoe and Alan Smith who can do that job too. It's great to see young talent coming in," added Beckham, who set England a minimum target of four points from the Austria game and one against Poland in Chorzow on Wednesday.

"Qualifying for the finals is the most important thing now, hopefully the summer is out of the way and in the past," he said of the team's Euro 2004 campaign.

"In the last couple of competitions we haven't gone as far as we expected," Beckham said. "With the talent we've got in the team we should get further and hopefully in Germany it's going to be our year.

"I don't lie when I sit here and say I do believe we can win a competition."

Beckham was on the same wavelength as manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

GETTING SERIOUS

Though the Swede said last month's 3-0 friendly win over Ukraine was serious, Eriksson told a news conference on Friday: "Now it's more serious. It's about getting points and qualifying for the World Cup. My dream is the same as yours, to play the final of a big tournament and hopefully win it."

England face an Austria side who are ranked 90th in the world and lost 3-1 to 2006 hosts Germany in a friendly last month but Eriksson is not under-estimating them.

"It's going to be a real challenge. As long as I've been in charge of England, we've never had an easy qualification game. We thought maybe it would be easy against Albania, who are not a hugely famous football nation, but it wasn't.

"We had to fight and we were a little bit lucky as well," he said of the World Cup qualifier in 2001. England eventually won 3-1 but could easily have drawn 2-2 after the hosts had a stoppage-time equaliser disallowed.

"I expect a very difficult game. We are maybe the favourites, but Austria have nothing to lose," Eriksson said.

Criticised by the British media in the wake of Euro 2004, Eriksson did not want to discuss his future if the next two games ended in disappointment.

"I've never thought my destiny be written in Austria and Poland," he said.

2004-09-04T01:07:00.000+08:00

Woodward attacks rugby chiefs

By Mark Meadows

LONDON (Reuters) - Departing England coach Clive Woodward has blamed the powerbrokers of English rugby for his decision to resign but committed himself to the British and Irish Lions before any possible move into soccer.

Woodward's resignation was accepted by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) late on Thursday after two days of talks and he used a news conference at Twickenham on Friday to vent his anger over his lack of access to the England team since the World Cup win last November.

"Before the World Cup I felt totally in control but virtually from the moment I touched down in the aircraft I felt out of control," Woodward said on Friday.

"The England team overdelivered in what I think were difficult circumstances. I was not prepared to compromise and I was staggered by the meetings that were taking place.

"The structure is wrong. It is madness," he added, referring to the fact he had less time to prepare for games after the World Cup than he did beforehand.

"We started the Six Nations with no preparation. I am amazed the clubs and the RFU have taken us down this road," he said as RFU chief executive Francis Baron and Graeme Cattermole, Chairman of the RFU Management Board, who were sitting next to him, appeared uncomfortable.

At times the banter between the three became heated and Cattermole said: "Clive has some very strong views. He has spoken a lot of truth. We accept that."

Woodward also backed new acting head coach Andy Robinson to take the England job full time.
"Andy Robinson believes he can work with it (the system). He should be appointed head coach. he has been groomed for four years," he added.

ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT

Woodward confirmed he would take charge of the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005 despite his England resignation.

"My commitment to the Lions is absolute," he said. "Now with what has happened from the Lions point of view, it is better. I will not be taking up any job from anyone before the Lions tour."

Woodward said he hoped retired former England captains Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson would make themselves available for the tour.

"You have to ask why Lawrence Dallaglio retired when he is playing for his club, he should be playing for England in the autumn (against Canada, Australia and South Africa)," he said.

"Just maybe Martin Johnson could be playing for England. I am hoping they will make themselves available for the Lions."

He said he had held talks with Rupert Lowe, chairman of Premier League soccer side Southampton, but added any future involvement there would be a long way from the first team.
"I have been talking to Rupert Lowe for a long time", Woodward said. "I think I have got a tremendous amount to learn from football (soccer) but I have got to start at the bottom and I don't know where I will end up.

"I have applied to do a grade two coaching badge with the FA," he added. "There has been no role offered to me (at Southampton). If I go down there eventually I am looking forward to it. I may just end up coaching the under nines."

2004-09-01T19:01:00.000+08:00

Real Madrid duo train with England

David Beckham and Michael Owen were back in training with England today ahead of their World Cup double-header with Austria and Poland.

Beckham and Owen flew into England late last night to join up with the squad after playing the opening 45 minutes of Real Madrid's friendly match with Pumas de Mexico.

Alan Smith, Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves also participated for the first time.

Smith and Neville had not trained on Tuesday after playing the previous day for Manchester United against Everton while Bayern Munich midfielder Hargreaves flew in yesterday from Germany and only took part in a training warm-down.

The only new casualty was Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who suffered an ankle injury towards the end of yesterday's session but he is expected to be available tomorrow.
Meanwhile it is unlikely that former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson will be involved in some capacity with the Football Association in the foreseeable future.

There have been reports linking Robson with a move in some capacity to Soho Square after he was sacked by Newcastle on Monday.

2004-09-01T18:57:00.000+08:00

LOADSAROONEY TOLD TO CLEAN UP HIS ACT BY FERGIE

By Paul Gallagher and Clinton Manning

WAYNE Rooney was told to clean up his act yesterday as he signed for Manchester United - looking forward to becoming the world's richest teenage footballer.

United manager Alex Ferguson, who got the England striker from Everton in a 30million deal, told 18-year-old Rooney he must move away from Liverpool and the friends who have led him astray.

No-nonsense Ferguson has grown increasingly concerned at stories about the young star's seedy romps with hookers. He is also keen to distance him from any backlash by Everton fans.

A United source said: "Wayne is obviously a terrific signing and will make headlines. What Fergie wants to ensure is that those headlines are on the back pages, not on the front pages.

"He wants Wayne to move closer to Manchester so he can be nearer his team-mates and further away from temptation in Liverpool."

Ferguson described Rooney as "the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years".

His new signing added: "I'm excited to be joining a club as big as Manchester United."

Rooney, who was brought up in the tough Liverpool district of Croxteth, was transferred from Everton for 27million. Another 2.85million was added in agents fees and Premiership levies.

Rooney has signed a six-year contract, which will earn him 50,000 a week to start with. That will soar to 75,000 a week from next year.

But his pay packet will be dwarfed by his marketing potential and a cut of his image rights.
Experts predict he could even eclipse England skipper David Beckham and become the first British footballer worth 100million.

Rooney already has a 5million contract to wear Nike boots and during Euro 2004 was paid £1million to appear in TV adverts for Coca-Cola.

He is also sponsored by Ford for around 1.5million a year.

Other deals have been struck with Mastercard and Chinese phone company Kejian.

Publicist Max Clifford said: "He's the hottest thing in football, the new golden boy.

"Let's forget about wages and transfers for the moment, he could be earning huge sums of money through sponsorship."

"It would be easy to pick up 5million in the first year, 10million in the second.

"After that, he could be making about 20million a year if he keeps going the way he has been."

Another expert said: "The fact that he's hit the big time so young means he could be coining it for years provided he stays fit.

"He's also lucky to be starting his career in what is a golden era for footballers.

"Not only are they paid sky-high wages but the big names are in huge demand from advertisers."

But Rooney will have to knuckle down to Ferguson's demands if he wants to secure a golden future.

United are expected to arrange a "mentor" for their new superstar, who could make his debut against old rivals Liverpool on Monday September 20.

Defender Gary Neville, who was with Rooney during the Euro 2004 championship, is among those likely to be asked to help Rooney settle in at Old Trafford.

Another recent signing, Alan Smith, who had a reputation as a party-goer when he was at Leeds United, has moved away from his home city and relocated closer to Manchester.

United and Everton fans suffered hours of tension yesterday as they waited for news that the transfer had gone through.

Although Rooney was spotted being given a tour of Old Trafford by Ferguson around midday, no formal announcement was made by the 5pm transfer deadline.

As the hours dragged on, around 200 United fans, waiting eagerly for a glimpse of their new hero, were left disappointed.

Instead the young star was whisked out the back door for his medical at Cheadle Hospital.

While United fans were ecstatic when news of the transfer broke, Everton supporters were furious.

Steve Jones, editor of the fans' favourite website, bluekipper.com, said the club would get only 10million of the transfer fee this year, another 10million next year and the balance later.

Jones said: "We have been sold down the river and United must be rubbing their hands.

"It is disgusting what has happened. We have just let go of the best player in the world.

"We have called an emergency general meeting for September 9 and chairman Bill Kenwright is in for a rough ride.

"He has bent over backwards to help United when not so long ago he said no money in the world could prise Rooney from our hands.

"He was even talking about the lad being worth 50million and now we have sold him for 10million this year, 10million next and a load of ifs and buts over the other 7million.

"It doesn't look good business. In fact it is disgraceful and we should have sold him to Newcastle for cash. We also rushed in to buy three players last year on the transfer deadline and the club promised it would never happen again.

"They were right, this time we haven't got anybody."

Slamming Rooney's decision to go, Jones added: "David Beckham gave United around 10 years of his football, Michael Owen stayed with Liverpool for seven but Rooney has given us two.

"He should have stayed with us longer. He's still young and he has a long career in front of him."
But over at Old Trafford the fans were jubilant.

Sean Bones, vice-chairman of Shareholders United, which has some of the club's richest and most die-hard fans, said: "We are over the moon.

"Rooney is a genius - as he demonstrated at Euro 2004.

"We are delighted that the board has delivered a player that the manager wanted.

"It is a lot of money but when you are buying the best it does cost a lot.

"We have come to expect the best at Old Trafford and it will be a perfect arena for Wayne to display his talents."

Liam Fitzgerald, 24, from Wilmslow, said: "I think Rooney's a great buy and a fantastic investment for the future.

"We now have the best strike force in the league to try and win the title back from Arsenal."

Gavin O'Connor, 27, from Manchester, added: "He's had his share of problems off the pitch.

"But now he's moved hopefully he'll leave his scoring to on the pitch at Old Trafford and we can pick up some serious silverware this season."

Before the player signed, four-year-old Jessica Collins was already the proud owner of a United football shirt with Rooney on the back.

Dad Michael, 45, said: "I actually bought the shirt yesterday as Jessica insisted on wanting one as Rooney is her favourite.

"We'd have looked a bit silly if it had all fallen through but he's finally here now and we'll be looking forward to seeing him in action."

Sean Salji, 25, from London, added: "Rooney's an awesome player.

"With him on board we've a great opportunity at winning the Champions League."

Megasoccer, the world's only specialist football search engine, has now put Rooney in the top spot, knocking Beckham, Pavel Nedved, Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane down the list.

Rooney's four goals in Euro 2004 helped raise that profile and sent his currency soaring. His move to United will send it sky-rocketing again.

Ferguson is no stranger to tackling troublesome stars. When he first arrived at Old Trafford he was confronted with a rampant drinking culture.

He solved the problem by showing experienced players the door.

Once he stormed around to the home of young star Lee Sharpe after he was tipped off that the player and winger Ryan Giggs had been spotted in Blackpool when they were supposed to be preparing for a game.

When he arrived he found a party in full swing.

The Scot quickly brought the festivities to an end, giving each of the red-faced party-goers a cuff on the back of the head as they fled home.

2004-09-01T18:47:00.000+08:00

RUUD: I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY WITH ROO

Striking partnership will help United rule for years

By David McDonnell

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY admitted he cannot wait to form a formidable striking partnership with Manchester United's new 30million signing Wayne Rooney.

Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded van Nistelrooy to sign a new contract last season on the undertaking the United boss would bring Europe's finest young players to Old Trafford
Fergie was true to his word with the captures of Louis Saha, Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinze and Liam Miller.

Now the United boss has provided the final piece of the jigsaw in England striker Rooney, who is set to form the club's first-choice strike partnership with prolific goal-scorer van Nistelrooy.

The Dutch star believes Rooney's arrival will have a galvanising effect on United and give the club a much-needed boost after their unconvincing start to the season.

And in a wicked twist of fate, Rooney is set to make his United debut against Liverpool, bitter Merseyside rivals of his former club Everton, on September 20 at Old Trafford.

"Everyone knows Wayne is an amazing talent and the thought of him pulling on a United shirt is frightening," said van Nistelrooy.

"He proved himself at Euro 2004 and I don't know many clubs who wouldn't want him in their side.

"He is an incredible player who has a huge future ahead of him.

"To do what he has already done at just 18-years-old is incredible.

"Anyone who has seen him play knows what a talent he is.

"Nothing seems to worry him when he is out there playing.

"It really excites me to think he will be playing at United. He will be a great asset to the club and to play with him will be fantastic."

Fergie had his sights set on Rooney long before the talented teenager announced his arrival with that wonder strike for Everton against Arsenal in October 2002.

Back then, Rooney was a raw 16-year-old barely out of school, but in two years the striker with the nightclub bouncer's build has developed into the most exciting young striker in Europe.

And now, after securing Rooney's signature, Fergie believes he has a squad capable of wrestling back the Premiership title from Arsenal and reclaiming the Champions League.

The dramatic capture of Rooney, within hours of the transfer deadline, may have used up virtually all of Fergie's budget for signing new players next summer.

But the Scot was so determined to land the Everton striker he persuaded the Old Trafford board they had to act straight away or risk losing out.

In the past 12 months, the United boss has lowered the average age of his squad from 26 to 24 as he looks to build to the future.

And van Nistelrooy praised Fergie's policy of signing a new generation of young players to make United a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

"Arsenal and Chelsea have bigger squads and more star players than us," van Nistelrooy added.

"But our manager has started to rebuild our team. And he has chosen to do that with players who are young and talented, instead of superstars. There have been a few changes, but our manager knows exactly what to do and has brought in some great young players. We are building a team which can win the Champions League again."

Meanwhile, Walter Smith, the former Everton boss who watched Rooney develop through the club's ranks, believes the move had come ahead of schedule. Smith, who was No.2 at United last season, said: "Like everything else in Wayne's career this has come ahead of schedule, but it has always been like that.

"You always knew that at one stage or another he would move away from Everton, but this has come a little quicker than I expected. But if he was going to leave then Manchester United is the right club for him. Everything is right for him to go there.

"Alex Ferguson is the perfect man to get the most out of his talent."

Rooney has still to recover from the foot injury he picked up at Euro 2004 before he can even kick a ball at Old Trafford.

Rooney has been the focal point of everything at Goodison Park over the last couple of seasons.

And lurid revelations about his private life over the last month have further propelled the player into the public eye.

Smith, though, believes just being one of a number of stars at Old Trafford will help the player get on with his football. The former Rangers boss added: "He is a young boy and he has been exposed to a lot at an early stage of his career.

"The spotlight was always on him, but at Manchester United that will not be the case."

2004-09-01T13:18:00.000+08:00

Rooney on Reds alert

By ALASTAIR TAYLOR, DEREK BROWN and CHARLES RAE

WONDERKID Wayne Rooney signed a 30million deal with Manchester United yesterday - amid an astonishing security blitz.

Rooney, 18, was whisked from United's training ground to a secret address after becoming the most expensive player in British soccer.

A jubilant Rooney said last night: "It was a tough decision to leave Everton - the club I've supported and played for all my life - but I'm excited to be joining a club as big as Manchester United."

And Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I think we've got the best young player this country has seen in 30 years."

But United chiefs are so worried about threats from furious Everton fans that they have thrown a huge security screen around Rooney.

From now on he will have two SAS-trained minders watching his back at all times as well as his own personal bodyguard.

He and fiancee Coleen McLoughlin will be moved out of their home a few miles from Everton's ground to a "safe house" near Manchester.

United bosses are even taking out special insurance in case their 50,000pounds-a-week ace is kidnapped.

A United insider said: "Most big players who come here can expect some kind of security - but it has been upped massively for Rooney.

"He won't be staying in his house for fear of attack and the club has assigned two highly-trained guards to him. He also has his own guard so he will have three heavies watching his back.

"There is also a clause in his insurance that will cover kidnapping. It sounds far-fetched but we are covering all the bases."

Rooney has become the victim of a vicious hate campaign over his decision to quit Everton.

As he and Coleen visited her parents' home in Toxteth at the weekend they were confronted with the words "Rooney Scum" on a wall.

Elsewhere in his native Liverpool, fans painted slogans like "Rooney Judas," and "Rooney Die."

Coleen was back at her mum's yesterday - driving there in the 27,500pounds Mercedes SLK 200 Rooney recently bought for her.

The striker's agent Paul Stretford last night revealed he has received death threats for masterminding the transfer.

A spokesman for his firm Proactive Sports Management said: "Paul Stretford and his family have recently received a number of threats from misguided people purporting to be football fans. Details have been passed to police."

Rooney is recovering from a broken bone in his right foot - and the scandal of his trips to 45pounds-an-hour hooker Patricia Tiernan, a 48-year-old grandma nicknamed the Auld Slapper.

But that didn't stop Man United fans giving him a jubilant welcome yesterday.

Last summer they saw their idol David Beckham move to Real Madrid for 25million, but yesterday supporters gathered at Old Trafford to welcome their new hero with chants of: "Rooney, Rooney."

The transfer was a foregone conclusion after Rooney phoned United chief executive David Gill, to tell him: "I only want to do one thing for my career and that is play for Man United."

The ace's value rocketed during Euro 2004 as he netted for England four times.

Rooney will give evidence in a blackmail trial involving ex-agent John Hyland later this month
Hyland is accused of trying to extort money from Paul Stretford.

2004-09-01T13:15:00.000+08:00

Neville's title alarm

GARY NEVILLE last night admitted Manchester United already face a massive fight to stay in the Premiership title race.

Alex Ferguson's side trail champions Arsenal and Chelsea by seven points with four games gone.

United have picked up only five points while the London giants have both collected maximums.

And England defender Neville said: "That's a massive gap and means we have a long haul to try and peg it back. We must do something about it and put together a winning run soon."

United are not back in action because of the international break until a week on Saturday when they are away to Bolton.

By then Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wes Brown should be closer to full fitness.

But Neville warned: "We have to make sure the players we have got now go out and perform.

We are not scoring goals and not creating enough chances."

2004-09-01T13:14:00.000+08:00

He'll be market force

MANCHESTER UNITED are sitting on a marketing goldmine following the signing of Wayne Rooney.

Experts predict Rooney's arrival will send shirt and merchandise sales soaring to David Beckham levels.

Greg Jones of Shine Marketing in London said: "Beckham was big - but who knows what can happen with Rooney.

"Clearly, from a football point of view, Alex Ferguson is delighted but I bet the PLC are licking their lips.

"Rooney may not have done a great deal in domestic football yet but he is already an international star and that is where it counts. Asian countries are aware of Rooney and, now he is at United, shirt sales will rocket.

"He has had some indiscretions off the field - but as soon as he starts scoring everything will be forgotten."

2004-09-01T13:12:00.000+08:00

30million Roo best for 30 years

By NEIL CUSTIS

MANCHESTER UNITED finally landed Wayne Rooney last night after agreeing an amazing 30million deal for the 18-year-old.

And boss Alex Ferguson said: "I think we have got the best young player this country has seen in the last 30 years."

Rooney signed a six-year contract worth 50,000pounds a week at 7.40pm - just over four hours before the transfer deadline.

The striker said: "It was a difficult decision to leave Everton, the club I have supported for all my life and always played for.

"But I am now excited to be playing at a club as big as United.

"This can only improve my career, playing with top players in top competitions like the Champions League.

"I just cannot wait to meet up with the rest of the team."

United's money men haggled all day with Everton over the final payments.

They are paying Everton 20million with 10million now and another 10million on August 1 next year.

The Goodison club will receive a further 7million based on length of service and honours.

His agents ProActive will receive a maximum of 1.5million.

United will also have to pay a transfer levy to the Premier League up to a maximum of 1.35million.

There is a sell-on clause with Everton receiving 25 per cent of any profit.

Rooney, who has been given Nicky Butt's old No 8 shirt at Old Trafford, is currently out of action after breaking his foot against Portugal during Euro 2004.

England boss Sven Goran Eriksson is convinced that United are getting a real superstar.

He said: "If Wayne plays like he did at Euro 2004 you would have to say he is world class, No 1, absolutely the best.

"No manager in the world would say no to having him in their squad and I am sure he will have a fantastic career with United.

"I was recently asked what makes Wayne so good and I said it is the fact that he is so very cold. I have never seen him nervous or worried about anything.

"I had Roberto Baggio at Fiorentina when he was 18 and he was always very confident. But Wayne is even more cool about his own skill."

2004-09-01T13:03:00.000+08:00

Rooney is Mr Cool

By MARK IRWIN and NEIL CUSTIS

SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON last night hailed Wayne Rooney as the coolest kid on the planet.

Strike whizkid Rooney completed his 30million move from Everton to Manchester United yesterday - and England boss Eriksson is convinced they are getting a genuine superstar.

Eriksson said: "If Wayne plays like he did at Euro 2004, you would have to say he is world-class, No 1. Absolutely the best.

"No manager in the world would say no to having him in their squad and I’m sure he'll have a fantastic career.

"He showed in Portugal what an absolutely fantastic talent he is - but he is still only 18 and I'm sure he will be much better in the future.

"I was asked what makes Wayne so good and I said it is the fact he is so very cold. I have never seen him nervous or worried about anything.

"I had Roberto Baggio at Fiorentina when he was 18 and he was always very confident. But Wayne is even more cool about his own skill.

"I realised that the first time he started a game in the European Championship qualifier at home to Turkey.

"I told him on the morning of the game he would be starting. Anyone else would have been scared. But not him - he just said 'OK'. That was it.

"That is why I think he is a guy who will always keep his feet on the ground. But give him a ball and things will happen."

Rooney is out of Saturday's opening World Cup qualifier in Austria and next Wednesday's game in Poland as he is still recovering from the broken bone in his foot suffered during the Euro 2004 defeat by Portugal in June.

Eriksson admitted: "I am sorry for Wayne and for England that he is not available because we don't have another Rooney."

United's collection of stars are also in the grip of Roo Mania.

And Paul Scholes can see the teen hitman bagging a load of goals and becoming a legend - at both international and club level.

Former England midfielder Scholes, 29, said: "To see a lad of his age doing what he can do is unbelievable.

"When he's fit again he'll come back and score a lot of goals this season.

"He'll be a lot more confident after the way things went for him in Portugal. He's going to be a legend for England."

Keeper Tim Howard is just as thrilled at his arrival. The Yank, 25, said: "Wayne will give everyone a buzz.

""We all know what a great player he is. We know he'll fit in no problem and could go on to be a United great."

The question is WHERE Rooney is going to fit in now boss Alex Ferguson has four top strikers.

Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alan Smith and Louis Saha have come at a combined cost of just under 69million.

And Ferguson will be hoping for a quick return from that massive investment as United are already playing catch-up in the league.

The chances are Rooney will be eased into the side and could find himself spending time on the bench.

Van Nistelrooy will be straight back in when he is fit again in three weeks.

And Smith's performances of late - six goals in seven games - warrant a first-team place. But with United firing on all fronts again this season, Ferguson will be happy to rotate all four to keep them fresh.

Saha does not feel threatened by Rooney's arrival - but is excited at how the England man will strengthen the squad and create healthy competition.

The Frenchman, 26, added: "If United buy big players like Rooney it can only be very good for the team. It is not a problem for me. We all know he is a good player. We already have a great team and a great spirit but, when you bring in an ability like that, it can only be great for the club.

"The players are certainly excited about the prospect of his arrival."

United legend Paddy Crerand is delighted at the prospect of seeing Rooney in a red shirt.

The former midfielder, 65, said: "The first time I saw him, when he was 16, I thought, 'This lad is going to be a star'.

"His arrival means the competition for places now is going to be extreme.

"Alex Ferguson has a proven track record of bringing on young players.

"He guides them, he looks after them - and also takes no nonsense. Wayne could not be in better hands."

Former Old Trafford defender Paul Parker agrees - and reckons Rooney will help United regain their vice-like grip on English football. The 1990 England World Cup star, 40, said: "It's a massive signing for United. Rooney will add the bit of guile that has been missing lately.

"And Wayne's signing will restore some of the fear factor which has been missing. The rest of the Premiership won't fancy facing United now.

"With Saha, Smith, Van Nistelrooy and Rooney, Fergie now has four top-class strikers. And the last time they had that they did the Treble.

"A lot has been said about Rooney and what has happened off the field and he will have to live with that.

"But I am positive Fergie will put him right. He will get him totally focused and make sure nothing gets in the way of his football. Rooney couldn't be in better hands - Ferguson's track record with youngsters speaks for itself. The lad will be told what is expected of him and I'm sure he'll deliver.

"Of course he is so young - but at United he will just get better."

Massive things will be expected of the boy wonder. But Parker warned the United faithful not to put too much pressure on the star.

He said: "At his age, he will be inconsistent. He is not going to be amazing every week but it was a similar story with Ryan Giggs. When he was 17 the potential was obvious but he did go off the boil sometimes.

"Everyone must be patient and in time they will know what a great player the lad is. Giggs has gone on to become one of the all-time greats and Wayne can follow his lead."

2004-09-01T13:01:00.000+08:00

Eriksson to go with Smith

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Alan Smith has channelled his aggression in the right way as he considers whether to hand the Manchester United striker a start in the World Cup qualifying double-header.

Smith's aggressive approach has landed him in trouble in the past and he was sent off in his last competitive match for England - the Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia.

But the Swedish coach believes Smith's move across the Pennines from Leeds to Manchester United has done him the world of good.

He could even be in the starting line-up for the qualifying match against Austria on Saturday, with Michael Owen's first-choice strike partner Wayne Rooney still out with a foot injury.

'It's his nature to be aggressive in football and that is good if you don't do it too much,' observed Eriksson.

'He has been playing very well this season for us and Manchester United so I'm not worried that he is too aggressive.

'Experience is something you must earn, he is a young player and maybe he did some stupid things in the past. But now he's older, he's playing for Manchester United and playing for England.'

Eriksson also insisted he has not given up hope of securing either a winter break or a four-week gap between the end of the 2005-06 season and that summer's World Cup finals in Germany.

'I should like to have a winter break or four weeks before World Cup starts. Whether we can achieve it or not I don't know,' he added on Sky Sports News.

'I addressed it again after Portugal. We must try to find a solution to it.

'There's a UEFA meeting in Stockholm and I want to address it there. I think it should be like that for every country, not just England.'

Asked whether he was concerned that clubs might abuse the winter break by arranging
lucrative friendlies, Eriksson said: 'No club can play without the FA's permission. If you have a winter break you should use it in the proper way, and I'm still fighting for it. It was very close to becoming reality (last season) but there was some contrast between the broadcasters and the FA.'

2004-09-01T12:58:00.000+08:00

United finally complete Rooney deal

Manchester United have completed the signing of England striker Wayne Rooney from Everton.

The 18-year-old is now registered as a United player after he passed a medical with the club earlier today and all the details were finally agreed.

The clubs reached 'outline agreement' earlier today and the deal was completed with four and a half hours to go before the closure of the transfer window.

United released a statement to announce they had finalised an agreement with Everton for Rooney.

It read: 'Wayne has signed a six-year contract until June 30 2010.

'The fee payable to Everton is 20million. Half is due now, with half due on August 1 2005.

'In addition there are contingent payments to Everton over the next five years up to a maximum of 7million, dependent on club success, the player renewing his contract and his appearances at international level.

'Of this sum, 3million will be due to Everton provided Rooney remains registered to MU until June 30 2007.'

United also revealed that Rooney's representatives would receive 1.5million.

'Agents' fees payable to Proactive Sports Management Limited in relation to both the acquisition of the player and negotiation of his personal terms totalled 1.5million.

'Of this sum, 1million is guaranteed, of which 0.5million is payable immediately and the balance over the following five years in equal instalments.

'The remaining 0.5million will be paid in five equal instalments over the duration of Rooney's contract provided he remains registered to MU at the due dates for payment.'

Rooney will be unveiled at a 1pm press conference tomorrow.

He said: 'It was a tough decision to leave Everton, the club I've supported and played for all my life, but I'm excited to be joining a club as big as Manchester United.

'I feel this can only improve my career, playing with top players in top competitions like the Champions League and I can't wait to meet up with the team.'

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is thrilled to have Rooney on board after competition for his signature from Newcastle.

'I am very excited, I think we have got the best young player this country has seen in the past 30 years. Everyone is delighted by this signing,' he said.

Chief executive David Gill added: 'We are delighted to have reached an agreement for Wayne.

'He will be a tremendous asset to Manchester United and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him.'

2004-08-30T17:54:00.000+08:00

Man United v Everton preview

by Alex Dunn

Everton face a daunting Bank Holiday trip to Old Trafford with media attention more focused on events off the field than on it.

The transfer furore concerning the future of Wayne Rooney shows no sign of abating and it will be interesting to note the reception he receives from both sets of supporters.

Noises coming from the Rooney camp will not have been well received at Goodison Park and it can be anticipated that the England star will receive a frosty welcome from the blue side of this fixture.

Everton have been coping admirably without Rooney's presence on the field and Saturday's win, a second in succession, will hand the Merseyside outfit confidence.

Toffees boss David Moyes has indicated he could be ready to hand new boy Tim Cahill a debut, with the 24-year-old having now returned to England after participation in the Olympics and can play after completing a suspension.

The summer signing played against United in last season's FA Cup final and he will be eager to get the nod to start again on Monday, albeit with a different outcome.

Also making a welcome return to the Everton squad is Gary Naysmith, who is also returning from suspension, following his red card against Crystal Palace earlier in the season.

Chinese midfielder Li Tie is another absentee through long-term injury, but Moyes is confident he will have the squad he selected for the West Brom game on Saturday.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will demanding maximum spoils after a start to the season in which his side have already lost to Chelsea and dropped points at Blackburn.

With both Arsenal and Chelsea having taken maximum returns thus far, Ferguson will be aware room for error is already marginal.

In-form Alan Smith will continue to lead the United front-line and he could be joined in attack by Louis Saha, who is close to full fitness.

The France international played a convenient hand in United's injury time equaliser at Blackburn and will be hoping his lively display will have earned a recall.

Kleberson or Eric Djemba-Djemba could make way for Saha, with Paul Scholes dropping back from an offensive role to play in a more customary midfield position.

Gabriel Heinze's much anticipated arrival at Old Trafford has yet to materialise, while Rio Ferdinand's enforced absence is doing little for the club's defensive stability.

Nevertheless, even without chief goalscorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy, United are likely to have too much fire power for an Everton side that is indifferent away from home.

Skysports.com predicts: 3-0Potential new boy Wayne Rooney should be impressed with his likely new paymaster's attacking prowess.

2004-08-30T17:37:00.000+08:00

BAND-AID BABIES

Caroline Jones Mirror Woman's Editor

I HATE to say it, but Victoria Beckham's baby announcement smacks of desperation.

Another carefully staged event in a long line of publicity stunts that have punctuated Posh's time in the spotlight, and exactly the kind of behaviour we have come to expect from the fame- obsessed ex-Spice Girl.

Her pop career is dead, her marriage floundering, so she has decided to repeat the only thing she has made a success of in recent years - having a baby.

But, as countless couples have discovered, a band-aid baby will not repair the cracks in a failing relationship.

The announcement of a new arrival is usually something joyful, a time to offer congratulations.

But arriving so soon after this summer's string of affair claims, it's hard to swallow the news without cynicism.

When Rebecca Loos first sold her story, those close to the couple sneered that Victoria's response would be to get pregnant again. And now they have been proved right.

Victoria, like many women, believes a baby will help get her marriage back on track. But a new baby can create divisions and put an incredible strain on even the most stable relationship.

If all else is perfect, then another baby can be the icing on the cake - but can never be the cake itself.

The patter of tiny feet didn't cement the turbulent marriage of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger.
They split up two years after she had fourth child Gabriel.

Ulrika Jonsson got pregnant with Cameron after cheating on first husband John Turnbull. The couple parted a year after the baby arrived.

Vic Reeves was reconciled with wife Sarah after she ran off with a builder.

They had a second child in 1997 but a year later she fell in love with another woman.

To ensure the best possible start in life a child needs to be born into a strong partnership in which both parents trust and respect one another.

Under the strain of the inevitable sleepless nights that come with a newborn, problems are amplified and rows ensue - even if couples have a rock solid relationship.

In the UK, Victoria is lucky in being surrounded by a close-knit family who will offer support and advice.

But now she is said to be living in Spain full-time, the star could find herself feeling very isolated, as she looks after a newborn baby and the couple's other two children, Brooklyn and Romeo, while husband David is off playing football.

He's used to living an independent life in Madrid now and may find it hard to swap it all for nights at home changing nappies.

Only time will tell whether another baby is a wise choice.

Or if the Beckhams would have been better off devoting time to rebuilding the trust and love they once had.

2004-08-30T17:31:00.000+08:00

POSH IS PREGNANT WITH THIRD BECKHAM CHILD

By Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter, And Aidan Mcgurran

DELIGHTED Posh and Becks confirmed last night their third child will be born in Spain.

The couple, keen to put down roots in the country, said in a statement: "This is fantastic news and we are both obviously delighted."

The Beckhams have not revealed whether they know the sex of the tot, due in March.

But there will be frenzied speculation over what it will be called, given that they named son Brooklyn, five, after the New York district where he was conceived.

The news means Real Madrid star David, 29, and his wife became pregnant shortly after claims of his alleged fling with Rebecca Loos were published in April.

Victoria later revealed she would move to Madrid full-time rather than carry on visiting from England.

The mum-of-two, 30, showed close relatives an early scan weeks ago but swore them to secrecy.

However, David's dad Ted, with whom he had a fallout last year, was kept in the dark.

When the Daily Mirror broke the news to him yesterday, the gas fitter, of Chingford, Essex, said sadly: "I don't know anything about it.

"Nobody's told me. If it is true I'm really pleased for them."

A friend of the couple confirmed: "She has known about the pregnancy for some time but wanted to wait until she was given the all-clear by doctors.

"She told immediate family some weeks ago but wanted to make sure everything was OK before she went public.

"Victoria has known for weeks that the baby is due in March, but now she's happy to let the rest of the world know too."

Speculation about the pregnancy has been rife for some time.

In recent weeks the former Spice Girl has rarely been seen in public and on her occasional appearances has strenuously tried to hide her stomach.

Victoria was even spotted at London's private Portland Hospital but insisted she was merely keeping pregnant sister Louise company during a check-up.

The Daily Mirror knew the star's good news in advance but decided not to reveal it until she and England skipper Becks confirmed it.

The source close to the couple added: "All the indications were there right from the start. She has put on a little bit of weight and was a bit sensitive in case people noticed and realised why.

"She also had a touch of morning sickness - everything you'd expect. Victoria has found the last few weeks very difficult with all the rumours flying about.

"But she was adamant she wasn't going to say anything until she was ready and was sure everything was all right."

Just over a week ago the singer had a 12-week scan - the point at which the chances of miscarriage drop dramatically - and was delighted to be given the all-clear.

Earlier this year Becks told how they wanted a sister for Brooklyn and Romeo, who turns two this week.

The 25million midfield ace said: "I've two beautiful sons and I would like a little girl."

The Beckhams' friend added yesterday: "Now Victoria couldn't be more thrilled. She will be even more delighted if it turns out she's expecting a girl.

"And it is nice for her to be expecting at the same time as Louise.

"Louise even joked with her when she got pregnant that Victoria would be next."

Amazingly, the girls' brother Christian is also about to become a dad as his girlfriend Lucy is pregnant.

Victoria was last night at the couple's Beckingham Palace mansion in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, after returning here to spend the Bank Holiday weekend with her family.

She is expected back in Spain for Romeo's second birthday on Wednesday.

Becks, meanwhile, spent yesterday helping his team to a 1-0 win over Real Mallorca in their first league game of the season. Posh and Becks' statement read: "Victoria and David Beckham are delighted to announce that they are expecting their third child.

"The Beckhams hope to have the baby in early March 2005."

It added: "We are planning to have the baby in Spain."

And David's personal assistant Terry Byrne, speaking outside the couple's rented mansion in Madrid, confirmed: "Victoria is pregnant again.

"She's very happy and she's feeling very well."

Millions of people will now have fun trying to guess what they will christen the new arrival.

Although Becks admitted they chose Romeo simply because they liked the name, older brother Brooklyn can thank his parents' romp in the New York district for his.

Some names that can probably be crossed off the list straight way include Damon and Fergie.

There was speculation over Posh's friendship with hip-hop mogul Damon Dash earlier this year, although there was never any proof they had a fling.

And Becks' huge rift with non-nonsense Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, known as Fergie to fans, was one of the main reasons behind his departure to Spain in summer last year.

Also unlikely to feature on their shortlist are Rebecca and Max Clifford, the PR guru who helped Rebecca Loos sell the story of her alleged romps with Becks to the press.

Posh and Becks have made no secret of their wish to have more children.

Last November Victoria told BBC chatshow host Michael Parkinson that she wanted kids "running around everywhere".

When TV veteran Parky asked if she was already expecting, she replied: "No, not yet."

But she hastily added: "I'd love to. We have a fabulous, long dining room table at home and we want to fill it."

Despite the couple's joy, some showbiz commentators fear the new baby may be a desperate bid to try to patch up their marriage after the Rebecca Loos claims.

One said last night: "I'm sure they're delighted, but is a baby really going to save their marriage?

"Victoria steadfastly refuses to accept David was unfaithful.

"Some of her friends fear she could be using the baby as way of holding on to him, instead of resolving their problems."

SARDINIAPOSH and the kids were with David on the Mediterranean island at the end of May as the England players took part in a training camp before Euro 2004.EASTLANDSDID the couple have a private party for two in the dressing rooms at the City of Manchester Stadium after the England friendlies in June?TOKYOBECKS twisted an ankle when England drew against Japan in Manchester but maybe he scored later and they want to pay tribute to their oriental fans.RUSHETTTHE Beckhams were snapped enjoying a pub lunch with Victoria's parents at the Shy Horse in Malden Rushett, Surrey, in June. What was for dessert?REYKJAVIKVICTORIA and son Brooklyn turned up to cheer on Becks and the England team to victory in a friendly against Iceland during the run-up to Euro 2004.MILE-HIGHTHE couple spent many hours in the air as they flew across Europe earlier in the summer after Rebecca Loos' sex claims. Did they join the mile-high club?..AND SOME NAMES THEY'VE PROBABLY ALREADY DISCOUNTEDRebecca, Fergie, Damon, Max, Clifford ..and of course Madrid, as Posh has barely been there

2004-08-30T17:29:00.000+08:00

BUTTON'S 200MPH BLOW-OUT HORROR

By Byron Young

JENSON BUTTON had a miraculous escape from a 200mph tyre blow-out in the Belgian Grand Prix.

The 24-year BAR ace was charging past Zsolt Baumgartner on his way to third when his right rear Michelin exploded approaching Les Combes corner, flicking his car into the Minardi at top speed.

"There was nothing I could do," said Button. "It was one of the scariest moments of my career. I was sliding backwards without knowing where I was going."

Button immediately called for an urgent investigation after David Coulthard and Juan Pablo Montoya survived similar failures.

"We cannot go racing like this, not knowing whether the tyre is going to last or not," he said. "It's pretty serious when three people have problems."

The accident was an eerie repeat of Nigel Mansell's tyre explosion in Adelaide in 1986 which cost him the world title.

Only nine of the 20 starters made it to the finish as the drivers' favourite circuit returned to the calendar with a bang.

Among the wreckage was the German's seven-race unbeaten run stretching back to May.

Kimi Raikkonen roared from 10th on the grid to triumph thanks to a searing pace even Schumacher could not match.

2004-08-30T13:08:00.000+08:00

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE

We'll have tot in Spain

By VICTORIA NEWTONShowbiz Editor

Becks wins the toss ... David gets bumps from team-mates

LAUGHING David Beckham gets the bumps - as wife Victoria announces yesterday: I've got a bump TOO.

The England skipper, 29, was hurled in the air by cheering Real Madrid team-mates before he and Posh confirmed The Sun's story that she is pregnant with their third child.

Victoria, 30 - already mum to five-year-old Brooklyn and brother Romeo, one - is due to give birth next March.

And the couple last night vowed to have their third baby in Spain - where they now live as a family.

The pair said they were "delighted".

Their short statement confirmed what The Sun had predicted in a front page exclusive earlier this month.

Victoria - who is 12 weeks pregnant - has just had her first scan and told pals she is "thrilled".

She is due to give birth in early March - in the same week that she had five-year-old son Brooklyn, who was born on the 5th.

A source close to Posh said last night: "Victoria wanted to make sure everything was OK before putting out a statement confirming The Sun's story."

And later Becks said: "We had to wait until she was three months. It was nice to have a secret for a while.

"I am sure everybody will be trying to guess the name."

The joint statement said: "Victoria and David Beckham are delighted to announce that they are expecting their third child. The Beckhams hope to have the baby in early March 2005."

The couple added a personal message, saying: "This is fantastic news and we're both absolutely delighted. We are planning to have the baby in Spain."

He's Real good dad ... Beckham's Madrid pals throw him aloft

Victoria, 30, moved there during the summer to be with David, 29.

The family is now happily settled as the England skipper starts a second season with Real Madrid.

Brooklyn has been enrolled for an English-speaking school in the city and Victoria is learning to speak Spanish.

A pal of the couple said: "If the child is born in Spain I suppose he or she will technically be Spanish, but that doesn't bother them."

David's dad Ted, 54, said last night: "It would be great to be a grandad again. I think David would be overjoyed if the baby was a girl."

The Beckhams hope their new tot will help them put the problems of the past year behind them.

Upend it like Beckham ... star's in stitches as pals take the Mick

Their marriage was rocked by claims that David cheated on Victoria with his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos.

Bisexual Rebecca, 26, alleged they had sex in his Madrid hotel room - and that he sent her lurid text messages.

David branded the claims "ludicrous" and has been determined to prove he is a strong family man.

A source close to the Beckhams said last night: "They both wanted another baby and it seemed like the perfect time to add to their family.

"Victoria is happy and you can tell the difference in David by his performance on the pitch. He is fitter and happier than he has been in months. Brooklyn is very excited too - he keeps patting Victoria's tummy.

Lands on his Beckside ... team-mates laughas David comes back to earth with a bump

"They don't want to know whether they are having a boy or a girl because they want it to be a surprise. They would both love a girl but will be happy either way.

"The move to Spain was traumatic as they had to find a suitable house and school for Brooklyn.

"But Victoria has settled into Spanish life now and is learning the language and starting to make some friends there. She is determined to support David and to show her commitment to Spain."

David's team-mates celebrated the baby news by ducking him in a hotel pool before last night's 1-0 win against Real Mallorca.

Earlier, at a training session, they playfully tossed him around in the air - then left him sprawling on the ground.

Last night Victoria was back at the couple's UK home, "Beckingham Palace" in Hertfordshire, ahead of a family gathering to mark Romeo's second birthday.

She will return to Spain next week.

2004-08-30T04:25:00.000+08:00

Owen stars in Real win

Michael Owen made an instant impression on his Real Madrid debut, setting up the only goal for Ronaldo to ensure the capital club got their Primera Liga season off to a winning start at Real Mallorca.

The England player, who arrived earlier this month from Liverpool, started the game on the bench but replaced the injured Raul after 25 minutes.

And he did not waste the opportunity, producing an excellent cross in the 52nd minute that Ronaldo only had to divert into the net with his chest from barely a yard out.

Owen was the only one of Madrid's summer signings to play, with defenders Walter Samuel and Jonathan Woodgate both out injured.

He could, and perhaps should, have scored on his first appearance, but Owen will nevertheless be content with the way he began life with his new club.

New coach Jose Antonio Camacho, meanwhile, will be hoping Samuel and Woodgate are back as soon as possible as Madrid displayed all their old defensive insecurities and relied on Iker Casillas to preserve their lead on more than one occasion.

The game was untidy at the beginning, with both teams struggling to find the rhythm of competitive football again following their pre-season preparations.

Madrid created the first chance after 16 minutes. Ronaldo fed Luis Figo on the right, who beat his marker and fired in an angled shot that debutant Mallorca goalkeeper Miguel Moya stopped with his legs.

Ronaldo just failed to reach David Beckham's cross seconds later.

David Cortes, surging forward from right-back, was Mallorca's chief attacking threat and caused numerous problems for the Madrid defence.

First he sent a swerving effort just wide of Casillas' goal after 20 minutes and, a minute after Owen had replaced Raul, his penetrating run and cross was well cleared by Francisco Pavon with Juan Arango lurking.

Figo also looked sharp on Madrid's right, his fine run, turn and cross setting up Owen in the 34th minute, whose near-post header flashed just wide.

Roberto Carlos drilled a venomous free-kick wide after 39 minutes, and Ronaldo was thwarted by Moya a minute later after Zinedine Zidane's clever flick had set him up.

Seven minutes into the second half, Owen displayed the kind of creativity that is sure to see him pushing hard for a regular place in the starting XI.

After outwitting his marker, the England man sent a perfect chip to the far post and Ronaldo was on hand to bundle the ball over the line with his chest.

But on the hour mark, Owen showed one of the weaker points of his game.

Sent clear by a Beckham through ball, Owen beat the square Mallorca back four for pace but then mis-kicked completely with only Moya to beat.

Madrid were almost made to pay for their profligacy, but luckily for Camacho's side Mallorca were feeling equally charitable.

Substitute Andrija Delibasic headed straight at Casillas seconds after Owen's miss, and the Madrid goalkeeper was forced into an alert double save six minutes later, keeping out Delibasic's far-post header and then seizing on the follow-up from Marcos Vales.

Beckham had a quiet first game of the season but he almost created a goal for Ronaldo after 70 minutes.

The England captain crossed perfectly to the far post, but the Brazilian mis-timed his header and Mallorca survived.

Zidane produced an even more bizarre miss three minutes later. Set up beautifully by Ronaldo, the Frenchman had only to pick his spot but somehow blazed over the bar from 12 yards.

Mallorca had their chances and Casillas excelled again in the 84th minute, pushing away a fierce 20-yard drive from substitute Jorge Lopez.

Fellow replacement Delibasic made a big impact after coming on at half-time, but his shot on the turn in the final minute was also saved by the outstanding Casillas.

2004-08-30T04:22:00.000+08:00

Heskey dropped from England squad

Emile Heskey was tonight left out of England's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland as Sven-Goran Eriksson kept faith with Alan Smith and Jermain Defoe.

Heskey was forced to pull out of the squad for the friendly against Ukraine through injury and both Smith, who started the game, and Defoe, who again impressed as a substitute, seized their chances in his absence.

Even though Wayne Rooney is still out injured, Heskey, whose own fitness problems have cleared up, was still omitted from the 23-man squad named tonight for the back-to-back qualifiers.

Eriksson said Heskey remained in his plans despite his omission.

"The door is not closed for Emile Heskey," he said. "But I've seen a lot of Alan Smith and Jermain Defoe recently and they deserve their chance this time.

"However, I want to make clear that Emile has never let England down and he is still very much a part of my thinking."

Eriksson was evidently happy to see Cole holding down a place in the Chelsea side, saying earlier on Sunday: "I think it's important for him at club level to find a role.

"I should be very happy to see him play in the same position for a number of games," Eriksson said. "That's the most important thing because it's difficult for me if he's not starting."

Joe Cole returned after injury, but Phil Neville was still excluded even though Glen Johnson has been dropped back down the Under-21s, while Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green received another call-up to replace Chris Kirkland.

Heskey, at the age of just 26, has therefore simply found himself overtaken by youth, with the excellent early season form of 23-year-old Smith and 21-year-old Defoe having proved irresistible to Eriksson.

The Birmingham striker had been something of a mainstay of the international side during Eriksson's first two years in charge, missing just four of the Swede's opening 25 games - and all of those absences were due to injury.

He was one of the starring lights of the 5-1 win in Germany, while he also started in the victories against Argentina and Denmark at the 2002 World Cup.

Goals were, however, still few and far between and then came the arrival of Wayne Rooney, with his superb display against Turkey in April 2003 marking the beginning of the end for Heskey.

Including that game, Heskey has started just once out of the most recent 18 internationals, with Smith's development also having cost him this season.

For while Defoe and Darius Vassell are considered by Eriksson as back-up to Michael Owen, it is Smith's bustling style at Manchester United which should see him partnering Owen in Vienna next Saturday.

Heskey is, however, not alone in realising that his international career is now at best in limbo, with Phil Neville also being left out even though Johnson is also missing.

Put simply, Neville has failed to win a regular place at United and Eriksson feels that he therefore cannot be considered by England, even as back-up to his brother Gary, for whom Jamie Carragher or Owen Hargreaves could fill in if necessary.

Otherwise, there are few changes, especially with Rooney, Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate all injured, while Rio Ferdinand is still suspended and Paul Scholes has retired from international football.

Cole has returned to the squad after injury, with Eriksson heartened that the Chelsea midfielder has started to earn a more regular place at club level.

The England coach observed: ``It's the same with all players. If they don't play regularly, they're not happy, their confidence goes away and they know when they come on, they have to show everything.''

Shaun Wright-Phillips has, meanwhile, been included even though there are doubts over his fitness with a back injury, with Kevin Keegan being happy for the England medical staff to address the issue when the squad join up on Tuesday.

Kirkland, who was not involved - even on the bench - in Liverpool's defeat at Bolton today, also misses out, with Green, who was first called up at the end of last season, being included instead.

Gareth Southgate, who is now fit again, will have realised that his international career is
virtually at end with his continued exclusion.

Then again, at the age of 33, that might be rather easier to take than the same dawning realisation might be for the likes of Heskey and Neville.

Eriksson is nevertheless relishing the challenge ahead, with back-to-back games in Vienna and Katowice on September 4 and 8 respectively.

'I am looking forward very much to it and I hope the form of the players is going to be the same as it was against Ukraine,' he told the Football Association's website.

'If we play like that I think we have a very good chance of two very positive results. It's very important that we play in Germany in 2006 - that's the aim.

'Every game is important, because if you fail in one or two, it means you are out of the qualification and that should be awful.'

England Squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (Norwich City)

Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (Birmingham City)

Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Nicky Butt (Newcastle United), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Chelsea) Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Darius Vassell (Aston Villa), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Alan Smith (Manchester United)

2004-08-29T22:01:00.000+08:00

Lewinsky and Loos defend selling stories

By Adam Pasick

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Their relationships with two of the world's most famous men brought international scandals -- but Monica Lewinsky and Rebecca Loos both used the media onslaught to boost their bank balances.

"You'd be an idiot not to get the money," said Lewinsky, the former White House intern whose affair with then President Bill Clinton nearly drove him from office.

"Advertisers, television stations, news anchors -- everyone else is making money. Your story is a commodity," added Lewinsky, who received a reported 400,000 pounds for an interview with Channel 4.

Loos, whose alleged affair with football superstar David Beckham was front-page news for weeks over the summer, got 120,000 pounds for appearing on Sky News, according to her agent Max Clifford.

Lewinsky, Loos and Clifford justified their media relations in a panel discussion in Edinburgh on Saturday at a British TV industry conference.

"Before, the media made a lot of money from people's stories. Now, the people with the stories make the money -- I don't have a problem with that," said Clifford, an agent famous for making lucrative interview deals with tabloid newspapers and television networks.

An increase in chequebook journalism, especially on television, has spurred debates about ethics and reliability, with critics arguing such deals deceive viewers and result in bad journalism.

"I wasn't big on buy-ups," said David Yelland, former editor of The Sun. "When you pay money the relationship changes. I think the British public understands that tabloids pay, but that hasn't been generally true with television."

Such deals can restrict the tone of the interview and which subjects can be covered. Asked what conditions he requires for his clients, Clifford answered: "Everything has to be done exactly as I want it, for as much money as possible."

In recent weeks, ITV has paid a reported 100,000 pounds to Faria Alam, who made news for having an affair with English soccer coach Sven Goran Eriksson. The interview was a ratings disappointment, although ITV's Steve Anderson said the network did break even financially.

"There's never a guarantee -- some work, some don't," he said. "We're a player in the market because everyone else is."

Lewinsky and Loos said the paid interviews were a way to secure their financial future and to set the record straight.

"I got fired, didn't know my future and wanted a safeguard," said Loos, who had worked at one of Beckham's PR firms.

"I was reading so much, I wanted the chance to talk myself. I'd rather it come from me instead of holding my head down in shame."

None of the panellists were paid to appear in Edinburgh.

2004-08-29T21:57:00.000+08:00

"Idol" judge sees end of his fame

By Jeffrey Goldfarb

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Simon Cowell, the "Pop Idol" and "American Idol" judge audiences love to hate, has turned his brutally critical eye on himself and predicts the demise of his own fame.

"My act is going to run out fairly quickly. There's no question of that," Cowell said in a question and answer session at the International Television Festival in Edinburgh on Saturday.

"I can do what I do on these shows, I can add some humour, some honesty, whatever, but I have no inclination to be doing this in five or 10 years time."

But Cowell, one of the highest paid British television celebrities, appears not to think audiences have tired of his sharp tongue. He is set to judge on another show of his own creation called "The X Factor", to air in September.

The programme expands on the successful talent show format of "Pop Idol" by adding older contestants and letting groups, rather than just solo acts, compete for a record contract.

Approximately 45,000 people auditioned.

"I'm bored of just watching 22-year-olds coming on to a talent show and saying, 'Make me famous'," Cowell said.

The blunt critic will be joined on "The X Factor" by Sharon Osbourne, the wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne, and pop music impresario Louis Walsh, who judged on another talent show "Popstars: The Rivals".

Cowell, who worked in the music industry for two decades, expects the older contestants on "X Factor" might outshine the younger "because I think they have better stories to tell".

Asked whether "The X Factor" format would be taken to the United States, Cowell said only: "We'll see."

2004-08-29T21:56:00.000+08:00

Schumacher clinches seventh world title at Spa

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Michael Schumacher wrapped up his seventh world championship despite finishing second behind Kimi Raikkonen in an incident-filled Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver was unable to make it 13 wins out of 14 Grands Prix this season, and had to end up two points ahead of team mate Rubens Barrichello to seal the title. The Brazilian came back from a tough start to place third.

Schumacher's fifth consecutive title came at the track where he made his Formula One debut in 1991.

The race was highlighted by a series of collisions, with Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Takumo Sato and Mark Webber among those crashing out and the safety car having to be deployed on several occasions.

Ferrari won their sixth consecutive constructors' championship after a one-two finish for Schumacher and Barrichello, their seventh of the season, at the last race in Hungary two weeks ago.

2004-08-29T21:48:00.000+08:00

MY REAL LOVE AFFAIR

Paul Mccarthy Reports From Madrid

EVERYTHING'S in place: the office with its cool white walls, black oak floor and scented candles just the swift swipe of a platinum card from Gucci, Prada and Bulgari in the heart of Madrid's Mayfair.

Victoria's at home with the boys. For Brooklyn and Romeo, life's one long sunny holiday which will only be partly disturbed by new school and nursery places.

An Usher CD plays on the expensive sound system, there's Spanish ham and bread on the table while Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair and arguably the world's most famous footballer stare down from the walls.

David Beckham has finally found some kind of peace.

The turmoil of a summer where every facet of his England captaincy was examined, scrutinised - criticised - has been forgotten. The doubts over his fitness and stamina are distant, if still painful, memories.

There's a new beginning to relish, a fresh chapter in the most fascinating and fantastic story English football has ever dared conceive. More than that, the familiar smile is back in place and on full beam.

Beckham looks like a man content with life once more. He's no longer the new kid on the Bernabeu block, more an old hand dishing out advice on restaurants and homes to his English compadres. And it feels mighty fine.

"To be honest it feels a relief to be back in Madrid, just training and starting again," he admits, "It was important to get back and put the summer behind me.

"It's like a blank page in front of me, just to get my game back again after the disappointment of the summer.

" I had to prove, not to myself, but to a lot of people that I've still got a lot left to offer, that I've got a lot of good football in me still.

"I've worked hard in pre-season, really hard, because I knew that I had to have more energy and more fitness and I feel that in the few games we've had so far I'm getting stronger and better."

To that end, Beckham's pre-season work has restored the amazing levels of stamina that were a hallmark of his game before last season's major dip.

The infamous "beep" tests, the most accurate test of a players' fitness, saw Beckham go from first in the England squad to last after a season of poor conditioning in Spain.

Recently, Beckham put his body through the rigours once more. A fit player will reach level 12, an outstanding athlete can reach level 14. Beckham actually completed the test to the maximum 20th level, almost unheard of and bordering on Olympic standard.

A small step towards rehabilitation, perhaps, but if the doubts of the sceptical English nation after Euro 2004 were shared by Spanish fans, they were quickly dismissed at the first sight of Beckham in the white shirt of Madrid back on what he now considers home soil.

The reception he received at the start of Real's Champions League qualifier in midweek startled Beckham to such an extent that his mind drifted back six years to Old Trafford's closing of ranks after France 98.

"It was very similar to that time after the Argentina game when I came back to Manchester and the fans were fantastic," Beckham insists. "It doesn't matter what you do or where you go, you always like to feel wanted.

"The United fans did that for me after that World Cup and the Madrid fans made me feel loved again after the summer I've had.

"The way the England fans have changed for the better towards me has been a massive part of my life and career. So many people said the Madrid crowd are hard fans to win over and keep on your side, but they've been fantastic.

"I was slightly worried how they would be with me this time around, but as soon as I stepped on to the pitch, the reception I got was amazing. Even when my name was read out, the cheer I got was great. To have that support would give any player a major lift."

So the Madrid faithful are on his side, but Beckham knows in his heart that there is still work to be done to convince England fans their country isn't being led by a lame-duck captain, a man only in the side because Sven Goran Eriksson panders to his every whim.

Renaissance

His display against Ukraine was a start. The World Cup qualifiers in Vienna and Katowice will provide compelling evidence as to Beckham's renaissance and determination to begin a fresh chapter for England.

"I knew there were people who had doubts about me after Portugal - whether I was the right man to captain England," he concedes. "It may have been a minority but I still felt I owed the country a performance, and I think I gave it.

"You love the fans being great to you but you've got to earn their respect and show them that playing for England is one of the most important things in your life. I'll always work hard because that's the least the fans can expect - they pay a lot of money to watch and they appreciate it if you're putting the effort in.

"I still think I've got four or five years left in me at the highest level and I want to spend that time with the captain's armband. It means everything to me."

Everything? Well, only as far as football's concerned. Beckham's family come first, as he's only too keen to point out.

"I've got Victoria and my boys around me now, the house is great and I've got the support off the field I've always wanted and needed.

"I need a stable life, I need to feel secure and I need people around me I can trust. I've got that in Madrid. Now I want to immerse myself in the culture of the city.

"It's been difficult but if you've got the right manner and right attitude, you adapt to the culture and, more than anything, that's what I'm trying to do."

And as he leaves, he steals one last glance out of the giant window which dominates the Beckham office-cum-shrine.

"What a city, what a great city," he murmurs, as much to himself than anybody else.

Yes, David Beckham has finally found his home.

2004-08-29T21:40:00.000+08:00

AIDS TEST DEMAND BY ACE'S FIANCEE

Exclusive By Alex Hitchen

WAYNE Rooney's devastated fiancee Coleen McLoughlin has ordered him to take an Aids test.

She is terrified he may have caught the virus during his romps with prostitutes.

A pal said that Rooney, 18, held crisis talks with Coleen after the scandal broke last weekend - and assured her he'd always worn a condom.

The source added: "Coleen has heard what he said, but she's insisting he takes a test to put her mind at rest. She's also worried about other sexually transmitted diseases.

"This is the man she will spend the rest of her life with. It's bad enough to find out he's been going with prostitutes.

"But the thought he might have picked up some horrible disease is driving her crazy."

The revelations over Rooney's brothel trips could also throw a spanner in his expected departure from Everton. An insider said any transfer would depend on the teenager getting the all clear for Aids and other STDs.

"Any club signing Rooney would want to be satisfied he is in the peak of health," said the source.

"That means blood samples being taken during medicals. These are bound to be analysed for a range of diseases, including Aids.

"Look at it this way, you wouldn't spend 20million on a house riddled with damp rot."

2004-08-29T21:38:00.000+08:00

BECKHAM: 'I'LL PROVE THE CRITICS WRONG'

Simon Baskett

ON the eve of the new Spanish season DAVID BECKHAM tells Sunday Mirror Sport's SIMON BASKETT of his hopes and ambitions ahead of his second campaign with Real Madrid.

After the disappointments of the way your first season ended in Spain and Euro 2004, do you feel you have to prove a point to your critics?

The most important thing for me was to get my game back going again after the disappointment of the summer. I had to prove I can still play good football. I've worked hard in pre-season and so far I feel that I've played a lot better than I have done for the last five months or so.

What has the reaction of the Real fans been like?

The reception I got at the Bernabeu the other night was amazing. It gave me a lot of confidence and made me feel wanted again. I think the fans like the fact that even when I have a bad game I keep working until the final whistle.

What about playing for England. Can you bounce back after Euro 2004?

I've put Portugal behind me now. I felt I had to put in a performance that would make people think that I was still a good player in the friendly against Ukraine and I felt I played really very well. I'm really looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers. It's a new chapter.

How long have you got left at the top?

I think I've got a good few years left. I may be getting on, but I'm still only 29. Once I feel my legs are going I'll stop, but I want to be England captain for at least another four or five years. If people say I'm not the player I once was it's up to me to prove them wrong.

So you've still got that hunger for victory?

Yes, I always want to win, even when playing with my son - actually that's not true, I do let him win, but everything I do I want to do well.

How do you feel about Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate being at the Bernabeu?

The signings came as a big surprise and within two weeks we'd suddenly got both of them. But I think they are two good players. Michael's a great goalscorer and if Woody can stay injury-free then he is one of the best centre-backs in England.

How hard will it be for Owen to get in the team?

Michael is all about scoring goals. He's done it for England and he's done it for Liverpool and hopefully he'll do it here. It might be tough for him because there's obviously Morientes, Raul and Ronaldo here already, but that's part of football and you have to work hard to get in the team. If you're playing well and the others aren't then you'll get in.

What about the day all three of you step on to the pitch for Real together?

That would be special. The Spanish players and fans aren't used to having so many English players in their team, but as long as we've got the respect of the people and we work hard I don't think it will be a problem.

Are you planning to get more involved in Spanish life and culture this year?

I'm a lot more stable than last season. I've got an office here now and I've got a really good team looking after me. It's hard for any foreign player coming to a different country, so you've got to adapt as quickly as you can and I'm trying to learn the language.

How important is it to have your family over with you this season?

My priorities are my family, football and then everything else. As everyone knows, my wife and my two children are the most important things in my life so it's great to have them over here.

2004-08-29T21:36:00.000+08:00

Sir Alex: No Rooney deal until Monday

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated that he does not expect any movement on the Wayne Rooney transfer saga before tomorrow.

United moved in with a second bid last night, which is higher than Newcastle's, according to Everton.

That was believed to be 23.5million for the 18-year-old England striker, who has handed in a transfer request.

Speaking before the second bid was lodged, Ferguson told the Manchester-based Sunday Pink: 'It is unlikely anything will be concluded before Monday. I definitely think it is unlikely. Everton are obviously going to try to get as much as they can out of it, we have got a price and we will not be going above that.

'Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday so medicals are going to be difficult but you have a full day to do that. There is a 12 o'clock deadline on Tuesday so really you have got a whole day to get the medical done.'

United chief executive David Gill is trying to hammer out a deal with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright before the transfer window closes.

Ferguson added: 'We know where we are but that is David's job at the end of the day. He is the one who is negotiating, he and Bill Kenwright will be the ones who decide the price not David Moyes (Everton manager) and me.

'We have both got our views and David (Moyes) in particular has obviously got his views. It is very difficult.'

2004-08-29T01:15:00.000+08:00

Blackburn 1-1 Man Utd: FT Report

Alan Smith again provided the cutting edge for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United with a controversial strike in the dying seconds to earn his side a 1-1 draw against a resilient 10-man Blackburn.

United appeared to be on the receiving end of what would have been a third successive 1-0 defeat at Ewood Park after Paul Dickov had fired home a fine first-half goal.

Brad Friedel then kept United at bay with a string of superb saves until, with just 30 seconds of the four minutes of injury time remaining, Smith lashed home his fourth goal in five games after a clear handball by Louis Saha.

United made the far-brighter start, and appeared the more likely to score until Rovers made the breakthrough in the 18th minute with a bolt from the blue.

Cristiano Ronaldo had drilled a 20-yard drive narrowly over the bar and Lorenzo Amoruso, starting his first game of the season but who was later sent off for two bookable offences in the 71st minute, produced a timely header to deny Smith shortly after.

When Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs then combined as United pressed again, Dominic Matteo blocked the Welshman's angled drive, with the visitors' frustration made all the more acute when Dickov scored.

A long throw from Matteo into the area was controlled by the Scotland international who turned sharply to leave Mikael Silvestre floundering before lashing a left-foot half-volley beyond Tim Howard for his second goal in three games.

How United then failed to equalise until the dying moments will remain a mystery for they created countless chances, only to be denied by a combination of Friedel, bad luck, good defending and poor finishing.

Friedel first came to Rovers' aid minutes after Dickov's strike, with an outstretched left boot kicking away Smith's goal-bound flick.

Kleberson then watched in anguish as a powerful drive struck Morten-Gamst Pedersen, the Norway international a 1.5million capture from Tromso this week, and deflected into the sidenetting.

The Brazilian was then brilliantly denied in first-half injury time as a spectacular 30-yard curler was bound for the top corner, only for Friedel to acrobatically turn away the chance.

The second period proved to be a virtual non-stop assault on the Blackburn goal, with the first clear chance in the 53rd minute when Giggs, Smith and Saha - a half-time substitute for Kleberson - were all left waiting for a Ronaldo pull back.

The ball instead struck Amoruso and then trickled past the left-hand post.

Friedel then came into his own as he first parried away an angled Saha drive, before Matteo blocked the France international and Scholes in quick succession following a Giggs lay-off.

After Saha had arrowed another powerful effort inches over the bar, Rovers' American star again showed his agility in turning away a goal-bound Smith header.

Rovers' problems were compounded in the 71st minute when Amoruso was dismissed for a second bookable offence after bringing down Saha on the edge of the area, with his first caution having come in the 40th minute for a shoulder-charge on Kleberson.

Souness immediately shored up his defence by bringing on Nils-Eric Johansson for Dickov, and was then relieved to see Ronaldo curl the free kick over the bar.

Pedersen could have killed the game in the 74th minute when he was left all-alone inside the area after being picked out by Emerton from the right, but his first-time shot was high over the bar.

But Friedel was proving inspirational and in the 77th minute denied Saha for a third time before repelling a Ronaldo header with the goal at the winger's mercy.

But with just 30 seconds remaining of the four minutes of injury time, United finally grabbed the equaliser when Smith lashed an unstoppable shot past Friedel into the roof of the net from 12 yards after the ball came back to him off Saha's hand.

Friedel: Saha handled for goal

Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel criticised referee Alan Wiley after he granted Manchester United a controversial late Alan Smith equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

An angry Friedel told Sky Sports: 'It definitely bounced off Saha - I don't need to see the replay, it happened right in front of me.'

Blackburn also got a raw deal last week when a penalty was awarded against them in injury time at Southampton for a non-existent foul by Craig Short which cost them a point.

'It seems every week we are talking about referees. We went down to 10 men, getting battered and then that happens,' said Friedel.

'It was one play [incident] on one day but it was a critical play. We were hard done by at Southampton and hard done by here. It's not a personal attack on the referee. But we'll take it, we've got a point, and we have to take the positives from it.'

Friedel added: 'My defenders in front blocked a fair few shots today. Some days it looks like a beach ball and some days it looks like a marble, but I was really pleased to play behind those defenders today.'

The American goalkeeper was encouraged by how Rovers acquitted themselves in this game and against Arsenal in midweek, where they held the Gunners goalless until half-time before losing 3-0.

'We were playing a class team today and we have played two of the best teams in the country in the last four days.

'We came out with grit and determination to win both games, we didn't want to concede, we didn't play loads of football but we stuck to our task. To get hit by a last-minute goal was a bit of a blow.'

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson agreed it was handball by Saha.

He said: 'That's another wrong decision by the referee today.'

Asked if he had sympathy for Blackburn manager Graeme Souness, Ferguson said: 'I think Graeme will be quite happy he got a point - it could have been six or seven [goals for United].'

But the Scot conceded he thought United were going to leave Ewood Park with nothing.

'I thought we might go empty-handed. There are only a number of times you can hit a door and it doesn't open. In fairness their goalkeeper must have made over half a dozen [saves].

'He did a fantastic job but we had some good chances and should have been putting a few away.'

Graeme Souness, who shook the hand of all three officials as they left the pitch, said: 'It would have been hard for United to have left here without anything following that performance.

'But when you concede a goal like that in the last second then it's hard to take because the replays showed it was a clear handball.

'We've not had the rub of the green and this is a kick in the teeth, but we will just have to come back and pick ourselves up again.'

Souness has often been in trouble in the past for his outspoken comments against referees, but he added: 'There are a couple of things I would like to go into, but I can't.

'If I do it only works against you, so I will simply say I am delighted with a point given we only had one point before today.

'We have played a top team and showed great spirit. They made us work very hard, but then we had to to stay with it. We got our goal and Brad then had an excellent game, but when you see their goal it is tough on us. But that's life. That's football.'

Souness was clearly keeping his counsel, although expressed his unhappiness at Amoruso's dismissal.

'I saw the first booking because it happened right in front of me,' reflected Souness. 'My reading of that is that, yes there was contact, but that only happened after the ball had been kicked out of play.

'But hey, I am not a referee.'

2004-08-29T01:14:00.000+08:00

Beckham determined to remain fit

David Beckham is hoping to avoid a club-versus-country row by coming through a friendly for Real Madrid unscathed next week.

The England captain and new Real team-mate Michael Owen are both expected to be involved in the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy match on Tuesday against Pumas UNAM of Mexico and will then take a private flight to meet up with the rest of the national squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against Austria and Poland.

Beckham accepts there would be 'a problem' for England if he, or Owen, suffered an injury in the match, but is simply doing what his club have asked of him.

'To be honest I am part of a team, if I am told I have to play a game on Tuesday, then I have to play,' he said. 'If the President (Florentino Perez) and the manager (Jose Antonio Camacho) want us there, then I should be there.'

He clearly understands the England position, but was optimistic he should come through with no problems.

'Mr Eriksson is thinking about the game on Saturday (against Austria), which is a massive qualifying game and if any of the players get injured playing a friendly then it's a problem.

'But it's a friendly and hopefully it won't be very physical. Sometimes in friendlies you can get injured, but I don't think it will be a problem. I have no problem playing it, but that's between the President and the England manager,' said Beckham.

Beckham stressed the importance of winning the first qualifier in Vienna - to erase the disappointment of the penalty shoot-out loss to Portugal at Euro 2004 and to set them up for the second qualifier a week on Wednesday.

'It is definitely important we get off to a good start, we can't afford to lose, because in our group we have a lot of hard games,' he added.

'If we get a good start on Saturday then it set things up nicely for the game on the Wednesday. I think it was important that we played well in the friendly (against Ukraine) because after Euro 2004 it was disappointing for everyone.

'They are both going to be tough games, as everyone knows there are no easy games in football, but it's important we get at least four points from the two games, perhaps even more.

'It's good to get the away games out of the way first.'

England will be without Wayne Rooney for the games, but past experience has taught Beckham that you cannot rush back from injury and he tipped Jermain Defoe to be the perfect replacement.

'It's a shame that Wayne has got the injury and got it when he did, but the most important thing is his recovery, you don't want to be rushed back and come back too early.

'That happened to Gary Neville when he had the same injury and he had to have it done again.

'We have other players - Jermain Defoe has been doing great already for Tottenham and if he carries on like he is then he has every chance of being in the squad,' Beckham said.

2004-08-28T20:45:00.000+08:00

BUTTON: IT'S A SCHU-IN

F1: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX, SPA,

Byron Young Reports From Spa

JENSON BUTTON believes Michael Schumacher could obliterate the record books by remaining unbeaten for the rest of the season.

The BAR-Honda ace topped Ferrari's No.1 at the end of the first day's practice yesterday and then admitted he had no chance of doing the same in tomorrow's Belgian Grand Prix.

The Frome Flyer was second quickest in a session headed by Kimi Raikkonen with the German third on the time sheet.

Button's words came even though Schumacher was crowded by three BAR racers with Anthony Davidson and Takumo Sato fourth and fifth.

The six-time champion has won 12 of the first 13 races and an unbeaten run would hand him an incredible record of 17 wins in 18 races.

That would easily shatter the previous record of 11 victories he set two years ago as he romped to championship glory.

The German would wrap up his seventh title with victory here tomorrow despite the capricious weather and he is favourite, come rain, shine, snow or tidal wave.

"There is not a big chance of stopping Michael around here," admitted Button.

"They will be quick as they always are. It is difficult to know how competitive we will be but we are expecting a reasonable result.

"We won't be challenging Ferrari here but fighting with McLaren, Renault and Williams. Ferrari are too good at the moment.

"Their car can win every race. I know that doesn't sound exciting but that's the reality."
Button appeared unaffected yesterday by the lingering wrangle between BAR-Honda and BMW-Williams over his future.

BAR boss David Richards believes it will be resolved next week when the Contract Recognition Board meet to resolve his fate. Schumacher, though, only had eyes for the racing on his favourite track, which rolls through the Ardennes. He made his debut in 1991 and scored his maiden victory a year later.

Only flying wreckage could steal the limelight from him as he bids to win his seventh world title.

The first victim of Spa's infamous flat-out killer corner L'Eau Rouge was Toyota's rookie test driver Ryan Briscoe, who had precautionary checks in hospital after crashing at 200mph.

On only his second appearance as test driver for Toyota he hammered the barriers, ripping off the two left wheels and the rear wing after a puncture pitched him into a horrifying spin.

The car then skidded uphill for 200 metres on its belly, ripping off another wheel before hammering the barriers again and coming to rest against the tyre wall.

L'Eau Rouge, a 200mph down-up chicane, has been the scene of a series of spectacular high speed crashes and claimed the life of rising F1 star Stefan Bellof in 1985.

David Coulthard, who was sixth fastest, is hovering close to the Button contract wrangle and is expected to step into Button's shoes if he moves on to Williams or to sign for Jaguar if he does not.

2004-08-28T20:43:00.000+08:00

FERGIE: WE WILL ROOL WORLD WITH WAYNE

Fergie: He'll make us even better than my '99 team

David Mcdonnell

SIR ALEX FERGUSON believes the 25million arrival of Wayne Rooney will make his Manchester United side even more formidable than his all-conquering Treble-winning side of 1999.

Fergie claimed he will possess the deadliest strike force in Europe with the capture of Rooney, which will get United back to the luxurious position of having four world-class strikers at their disposal.

Back in 1999 it was Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the latter two being the goalscoring heroes of the dramatic Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich.

United have lacked that kind of strength in depth up front in the intervening five years, but all that will change with the imminent arrival at Old Trafford of England superstar Rooney.

Asked if he felt the arrival of Rooney would give United an even better strike force than in 1999, Fergie's response was unequivocal.

"Absolutely," said the United boss. "The quality we would have with Rooney would be fantastic.

"It's always difficult to compare different players from different eras because they all possess different attributes.

"But there's no doubt we would be back to having four out-and-out strikers and when you get the chance to get a player like Rooney, you shouldn't refuse it.

"Back in 1999 it was difficult picking two from the four strikers. Sometimes I picked three, with Solskjaer playing wide left, to alleviate the problem of who to choose.

"With Rooney we would have strength, options and goals. But we will have to wait and see, because there is no agreement in place yet and you're never sure until it actually happens."

That cautionary note from Fergie over the Rooney deal was in stark contrast to the United manager's relaxed, jovial mood yesterday at the club's Carrington training ground.

Fergie wore the satisfied and content look of a man who knew he was about to clinch the signing of the most exciting and talented young player in Europe, if not the world. Word had already reached the United boss of Rooney's decision to hand in a transfer request and, although he was giving nothing away, Fergie knew he had all but got his man.

As Mirror Sport revealed yesterday, Fergie confirmed there had been negotiations between United chief executive David Gill and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright over the proposed Rooney deal.

"There has been dialogue between the two of them but no definite agreement has yet been reached," said Fergie.

"And until that happens, all we can do is wait and see. Tuesday's transfer deadline is not insurmountable, but the fact it's a Bank Holiday on Monday may prove a problem.

"It only takes a day for a medical, but of course time is running out with the deadline so close.

But we feel confident something can be sorted out." Fergie's concern about the Bank Holiday in terms of concluding all the logistics of the deal confirmed his desire to have everything done by tomorrow evening.

United take on Everton at Old Trafford on Monday and both clubs would like to have the deal concluded by then to avoid it hanging over their game.

Fergie says his current squad is already stronger than last season. And once Rooney becomes a United player this weekend, Fergie will have a squad capable of ruling the world.

2004-08-28T20:41:00.000+08:00

ROO: SORRY I HAVE TO GO

United-bound Wayne in emotional farewell to beloved Everton

WAYNE ROONEY asked for the fans' forgiveness last night after he told Everton he wanted to quit the club.

The unsettled teenage striker broke his silence over a likely 25million move to Manchester United following Goodison boss David Moyes' demand that he put his feelings in writing.

And 18-year-old Rooney said: "This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career. Euro 2004 was a fantastic experience for me and made me realise I could play at the highest level and to do that I need to be at a club that is playing in Europe every year."

Rooney once wore a T-shirt proclaiming 'Once a Blue always a Blue', and he added: "I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and I hope the transfer fee Everton Football Club receive will help the club move forward.

"The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me. I hope they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the future I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since childhood."

By asking for a move Rooney has given up the right to the loyalty money in his current 15,000-a-week deal, but he will be far from destitute and can expect a whopping 90,000-a-week five-year contract if he moves to Old Trafford.

United boss Alex Ferguson is poised to increase his initial bid and beat Newcastle to the player's signature, but Moyes believes Rooney is making a mistake quitting Goodison Park - wherever he goes.

"I feel disappointed that he won't stay longer," said the Everton manager. "I still believe this is the right place for his career. I think he's had an awful lot happen to him very young and I would prefer him to stay here.

"I think most people out there believe that the best thing for Wayne would be to stay at Everton.

"I had him on the bench when he was 16 at Southampton and I brought him in right away. He played at Euro 2004 and became England's best player. I believe he could continue that development at Everton Football Club."

Rooney, who is recovering from a broken foot suffered in Euro 2004, refused to sign a five-year deal worth 50,000 a week to stay at Goodison and Moyes claims the club could not have done more to keep him.

"We've made the biggest offer we've ever made to a player, but it's remained on the table," he said.

Moyes' frustrations were multiplied last night when Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez put defender Djimi Traore's move to Everton on hold.

2004-08-28T20:30:00.000+08:00

Gunners can go unbeaten

From ERIC BEAUCHAMP in Madrid

DAVID BECKHAM reckons Arsenal can sustain their red-hot form - and go ANOTHER year unbeaten.

Becks, 29, confessed he is in awe of the record-breaking side Arsene Wenger has assembled.

The Gunners have gone 43 games without defeat in the Premiership and Real Madrid star Beckham fears they could carry that into Europe as well.

He declared: "That record is impressive and it wouldn't surprise me if they went another whole season unbeaten.

"It is unbelievable that you can even think that - but they did it last season.

"And if they carry on playing like they do, it will be great for English football."

And Becks was upbeat on Arsenal's prospects of bringing European success to Highbury.

He said: "Arsenal improved last year in the Champions League. It took Manchester United a few years to get used to playing in the competition and look what happened - we went on to win the Treble.

"Arsenal are more than capable of going all season unbeaten again and going further in the Champions League - but hopefully not as far as us!"

Beckham also insists Wenger deserves credit for the way he has gelled his Arsenal stars into such an incredible team.

He added: "They are a great team. They have got an amazing manager and I think he is one of the best around.

"I have met him a few times and he's very calm. But you can tell the players respect him immensely because of what they say about him and how they play for him.

"They have got their stars like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira but they don't play like a group of stars, they play as a team unit."

The England captain also revealed he dreams of playing back home in a Real Madrid shirt for the first time.

Top of his list though is a showdown with his old club Manchester United - ahead of the rampant Gunners.

He said: "Coming up against Arsenal would definitely be interesting because both teams play great football.

"I would love to play an English side in the Champions League at some point.

"Going back to England as a Real Madrid player would be amazing for me. We will have to wait and see but I would love to play United."

First, Becks meets up with England next week for the World Cup qualifiers in Austria and Poland.

And while Wayne Rooney is likely to be ruled out by a foot injury, Becks is not unduly worried.

He added: "We would settle for a draw and a win going into the games. It is really important we get off to a good start and we need four points at least from the two games, if not more.

"It's a shame Wayne has got the injury, especially after what he did at Euro 2004. The most important thing though, is his recovery.

"But against Ukraine we showed we have other players who can come in.

"Jermain Defoe has been doing great things for Tottenham and if he carries on like he is then he has every chance of being in the squad."

And Becks revealed he feels back to his best after troubled times last term and at Euro 2004, thanks to having wife Victoria and sons Brooklyn and Romeo based in Madrid.

He said: "I'm loving it. Anyone who is married with kids wants to be with them every minute of the day. Sometimes in your job it's not possible and last year was tough.

"It's all about spending time together and that is what is going to be good this season.

"Victoria will still be busy working but we are living here in a nice house - and we are going to be happy."

2004-08-28T20:28:00.000+08:00

Roon will complete jigsaw

By NEIL CUSTIS

ALEX FERGUSON reckons Wayne Rooney will complete his best squad since winning the Treble.

And Fergie has fired a warning to Chelsea and Arsenal that Manchester United are still very much in the ball game.

The United boss believes he now has the blend of youth and experience just right - and Rooney, 18, will be the icing on the cake.

Whether they can emulate that Treble-winning team of 1999 is another thing - but Ferguson has every confidence they will.

He said: "We are hoping to get an agreement with Everton over Wayne Rooney.

"If we do sign him I will be very happy with the squad we have got here. I believe it will be just as strong as we had in 1999. Both squads have really good talent, although it is difficult to compare players.

"But what I will have again is four top strikers to choose from. It will give us strength and a lot of options."

Ferguson had the luxury in 1999 of having Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ole Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham as his front men.

They helped United to glory in the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League in one unforgettable season.

Now Ferguson will have Alan Smith, Ruud van Nistelrooy, fit-again Louis Saha and most likely Rooney.

The England man took another step towards joining United yesterday when he put in a transfer request.

He has pleaded with Everton boss David Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright to let the deal happen ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

And Fergie has told his board Rooney could have the same influence as Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.

United have a proven track record of getting the very best out of young players - and Fergie expects to do the same with Rooney. He added: "I feel confident about working with any young player who comes here. I think we would look forward to working with a talent like him."

This summer, Fergie has brought in Gabriel Heinze and Smith, while Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo have made big strides.

The United chief said: "We are much stronger than last year. Younger players like Fletcher and Ronaldo have developed well.

"We will also start to see the best of Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba."

But Ferguson is set to tinker with his team again for today's trip to Blackburn.

Ronaldo will be behind Smith, while Paul Scholes will retreat to central midfield.

Fergie added: "We have not won there for three years so it's going to be tough."

2004-08-28T20:26:00.000+08:00

EXCLUSIVE Fergie's good for you

By ERIC BEAUCHAMP

DAVID BECKHAM has told Wayne Rooney: You can rely on Alex Ferguson to set you on the right road at Manchester United.

England skipper Becks' advice came on the day Rooney, 18, hit Everton with a transfer request.

Rooney said: "I want to join a club that is playing in Europe every year."

He will opt for a dream 25million move to United ahead of Newcastle.

And Becks admitted: "I've always been grateful for guidance Sir Alex Ferguson gave me and never criticised it. When players go through tough times, he is a very strong person. He believes players in his team and at United should be looked after."

Rooney, out of Everton action since breaking a foot during Euro 2004, has had a traumatic time following revelations he has paid prostitutes for sex.

Real Madrid ace Beckham added: "As a young player, Wayne has gone through a lot already. It is all about coming through those kinds of thing and I think Wayne has the strength to do that.

"Without Sir Alex's guidance, the players from my time would not have grown up as we have done."

Ferguson rescued the careers of both Eric Cantona and Roy Keane when it seemed they had gone off the rails.

Rooney should be on the move before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

He added: "This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career.

"Euro 2004 was a fantastic experience and made me realise I could play at the highest level.

"To do that I need to be with a club playing in Europe every year."

Newcastle have had bids of 20million and 23.5million turned down so far. United have had an offer of 20million rejected.

But Everton chairman Bill Kenwright declared: "I can't tell you if Wayne will be at Everton next week."

Rooney would get a 90,000pounds-a-week deal at Old Trafford, worth 25million over five years.

And he could probably double that with sponsorship deals, despite the lurid tales of his private life.

2004-08-28T00:47:00.000+08:00

Rooney hands in transfer request

The battle to sign England's most promising young player began in earnest on Friday when Everton striker Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request.

The 18-year-old England international, the subject of three failed bids from Newcastle and Manchester United this week, cited his desire to join 'a club that is playing in Europe every year' as the reason for his decision.

It would now seem to be a straight fight between the two Uniteds to sign Rooney before next Tuesday's transfer deadline, with the Old Trafford club favourites to land the player whose rise to prominence was confirmed at Euro 2004.

'This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career,' Rooney said today.

'The Euros were a fantastic experience for me, it made me realise I could play at the highest level.

'To do that I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year. I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and I hope the transfer fee Everton Football Club receive will help the club move forward.

'The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me. I hope they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the future I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since boyhood.'

Newcastle were the first to fail with a 20million bid for Rooney this week. United matched that but were also turned down yesterday.

Newcastle's second offer - thought to be worth 23.5million - was also dismissed by Everton on Thursday.

But with chairman Bill Kenwright revealing: 'I can't tell you if he will be at Everton next week' it would seem the brilliant youngster, who had two years to run on the contract which he signed in 2003, is about to leave.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would only say today: 'It is as it was yesterday. David Gill [chief executive] is in dialogue with Bill Kenwright.'

Asked about the timescale of a move, Ferguson said: 'It only takes a second to say yes.
'The difficulty is getting the medicals but at the moment it is not at the stage where we are taking about it.

'We are waiting for an agreement before doing anything else.'

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd would not reveal whether the Magpies would make a new offer for Rooney.

He added: 'You know has much as us - but I'd hope he can still be a Newcastle player.

'We've got until 3.30pm on Tuesday to do it - and I'm sure Everton will make their mind up before then.'

Rooney held talks with Toffees manager David Moyes at Bellefield training ground on Friday morning and then submitted a written transfer request.

Shepherd claimed the Magpies were prepared to fight Manchester United all the way for Rooney.

Speaking in Monaco following the UEFA Cup draw, he added: 'I'm always confident. I think Wayne Rooney will be in another club by Tuesday, and I would like to think he will be wearing a black and white shirt.

'Our bid is in and it's confidential, it would not be fair to Everton to disclose it. They have had the bid and have to decide which way to go.

'He's their player, he's not our player and it's up to them to say yes or no.'

Shepherd refused to say whether Newcastle were prepared to up their bid but insisted they would do their best to land the England forward.

'One thing we're not at Newcastle is shrinking violets put it that way,' he added. 'But I would put my house on it all being sorted out before the transfer deadline.'

2004-08-27T00:52:00.000+08:00

Toffees reject Roo bids

By SUNSPORT REPORTER

EVERTON have turned down Manchester United's bid for Wayne Rooney and also rejected a new offer from Newcastle for the England striker.

The Goodison Park club spurned Newcastle’s initial offer of 20million earlier this week, which is believed to have been matched by United last night.

But the Magpies are thought to have increased their offer to 23.5million - and have been rejected once more.

Everton's head of public relations Ian Ross said: "Newcastle United have submitted an increased offer for Wayne Rooney - one which has been turned down.

"The bid submitted by Manchester United has also been rejected."

2004-08-27T00:50:00.000+08:00

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW IN FULL

GROUP A: Deportivo, LIVERPOOL, Monaco, Olympiakos.

GROUP B: Real Madrid, Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, Dynamo Kiev.

GROUP C: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Ajax, M Tel-Aviv.

GROUP D: MANCHESTER UNITED, Lyon, Sparta Prague, Fenerbache.

GROUP E: ARSENAL, Panathinaikos, PSV, Rosenborg.

GROUP F: Barcelona, AC Milan, CELTIC, Shakhtar Donesk.

GROUP G: Valencia, Inter Milan, Anderlecht, Werder Bremen.

GROUP H: Porto, CHELSEA, PSG, CSKA Moscow.

2004-08-27T00:48:00.000+08:00

Mourinho to face former club Porto

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will face former club, and European champions, FC Porto in the group phase of the Champions League.

Mourinho guided the Portugese club to Champions League victory last season before quitting the Estadio do Dragao for Stamford Bridge.

'That's the way it works,' Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said of the draw. 'I guess that was always one of the predictable ones.'

'You have to be happy with the group and I think we're in for some interesting football. We're all looking forward to it.

'But we shouldn't forget the other teams. There are no easy games.'

Thursday's Champions League draw in Monte Carlo, Monaco, also pitted Paris Saint Germain and CSKA Moscow - sponsored by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - against the Blues in Group H.

Manchester United were drawn against Lyon, Sparta Prague and Fenerbahce in Group D and manager Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased his side avoided a long trip.

'It's a very interesting draw. We have drawn two clubs we have never played before; Lyon and Sparta Prague,' Ferguson told ManUtd.com.

'We met Fenerbahce in the Champions League in October 1996. And they were the first team to win a European tie at Old Trafford - they beat us 1-0 later that month.

'There is some travel involved, but it could have been a lot worse. There were some long trips in the draw. So I am happy with the way it all turned out.

'There are some great names in there. The draw has a very competitive feel to it. Hopefully my squad will be fit enough to represent Manchester Unitd in the first game.'

Liverpool, who passed their qualifying test against Graz AK, must play Deportivo La Coruna, Monaco and Olympiakos in Group A.

Despite the favourable draw Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists his club's priority this season is the Premiership.

Parry said: 'We'd like to do better in the Premier League first and foremost and close that 30-point gap to Arsenal. That's out first objective and everything else is a bonus.

'We're just delighted to be in it - there are no easy teams when you get to this level. We've avoided the lengthy trips which is an advantage.

'Rafa (Benitez) will know all about Deportivo, Monaco didn't do badly last season and Olympiakos we've been to before so we know a bit about the teams and it could have been worse.

'We've avoided the very biggest but that doesn't mean we've avoided the best. We saw last year it was some of the smaller teams that did very well. We treat them all with respect but not with fear,' he told Sky Sports.

Arsenal, rampant in England but unimpressive in Europe in recent years, will play Panathinaikos, PSV Eindhoven and Rosenborg Trondheim in Group E.

Gunners director Danny Fiszman believes his club must win the competition to prove themselves as global football giants.

Fiszman said: 'It's the one big trophy that we've never been able to win. In order to really make our mark in the world of football we have to win the Champions League.

'Everything else is going well with the record last night and our stadium waiting to be completed and we really do need to win the Champions League.

'We're not that unhappy but it's always tough - all 32 teams have their work to get here so there are no easy games.

'Four out of the eight in the pot were Italian so we've managed to stay away from them and we are not unhappy about that.

'Against Eindhoven we had the fastest goal on record in the competition when Gilberto scored after 20 seconds so we'll be looking forward to meeting them.'

Six-times winners AC Milan face former champions Celtic and Barcelona as well as Shakhtar Donetsk in Group F.

There will be another emotional reunion when Henrik Larsson, who left Celtic for Barcelona at the end of last season after scoring more than 250 goals for the Scottish club, returns with his new club to Parkhead.

Group G, meanwhile, features three clubs who won their domestic titles last season: Valencia in Spain, Werder Bremen in Germany, and Anderlecht in Belgium.

Inter Milan, who look as impressive as they have for some years under new coach Roberto Mancini, are the other team in the pool.

Mancini said: 'It is a tough group, but I didn't expect anything different. When you play in the Champions League, you can only meet strong opponents because the level of Europe's most important competition is always high. However I'm optimistic as usual. Inter has the will and potential to be respected on all pitches.'

Real Madrid, bidding to win a record 10th European Cup title will face Serie A runners-up AS Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, the club they beat in the 2002 final, and Dynamo Kiev in Group B.

And Group C, which features three former champions in Bayern Munich, Juventus and Ajax along with Maccabi Tel Aviv, will also present a stern challenge for the competitors.

2004-08-26T18:20:00.001+08:00

'Mummy' Posh tum tease

Touching ... Posh puts handon her tum last night

By VIRGINIA WHEELER

TEASING Victoria Beckham holds her tum - days after The Sun told of rumours she may be pregnant.

Posh, 30, patted her stomach while watching soccer idol husband David play last night for Real Madrid.

She dressed in comfy jeans and jacket for the Champions League qualifying match while sons Brooklyn, five, and Romeo, two, donned Madrid kits.

They saw the home side beat Poland's Wisla Krakow 3-1 with two goals from Ronaldo and one from Pavon.

Becks celebrated by planting a smacker on Ronaldo's head.

The Sun revealed last week that Posh had been spotted visiting Harley Street baby expert Dr Malcolm Gillard, who delivered Romeo.

Meanwhile chat host Michael Parkinson has told how Becks, 29, visited his dressing room in just his UNDERPANTS.

Parkinson, who has just switched from the BBC to ITV, said: "When he first came on the show he knocked on my dressing room door with just a pair of briefs on. His shower was knackered so I let him use mine.

"Afterwards he was walking down the corridor in a towel.

"A middle-aged secretary just looked at him and dropped a big box of documents on the floor.

He, being a gentleman, picked them up for her. There's something about him - there's an aura with that guy."

2004-08-26T18:18:00.000+08:00

GOALACTICOS

CHAMPIONS LGE 3RD QUAL RD, 2ND LEG: MAN UTD 3-0 DINAMO BUCHAREST (MAN UTD WIN 5-1 ON AGGREGATE)

David Mcdonnell

WHEN Manchester United succeed - as they surely will - in the race to sign Wayne Rooney, they will possess the most formidable strike-force in Europe, let alone the Premiership.

With Alan Smith, two-goal hero of this comfortable win, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha and the prospect of Rooney, would there be a club with a more exciting and deadly quartet of strikers?

Perhaps only Real Madrid, with Ronaldo, Raul, Fernando Morientes and now Michael Owen, could boast a more accomplished and dangerous choice of strikers in world football right now.

And with United taking a significant stride ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Rooney by securing a Champions League place, the future suddenly looks extremely bright at Old Trafford.

Smith confirmed his growing reputation with the two strikes that gave United a comfortable passage into today's group stage draw, taking his tally for United to an impressive four goals in five games.

If Rooney does sign for United, the logical conclusion would be that Smith would end up as fourth-choice striker, a harsh scenario given the blistering start the England striker has made at Old Trafford.

Smith has served emphatic notice he has no intention of acting as an understudy for the main stars and enhanced his growing popularity among United fans with another committed display.
With Rooney, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would get back to the luxurious position he enjoyed during the Treble-winning season of 1999 of having four world-class strikers at his disposal.

Then it was Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the latter two the goalscoring heroes of the dramatic Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich. United have lacked that kind of strength in depth up front in the intervening five years, but that looks set to change before the end of Tuesday's transfer deadline with the acquisition of Rooney.

All the talk ahead of the game was of the bid for Rooney, and the game itself became no more than a backdrop as United won it with considerable ease. With such a healthy first leg lead, in particular two vital away goals, Fergie felt he could get away with not fielding his strongest line-up, leaving Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the bench.

The United boss was right. A side boasting two players making their Champions League debuts in Jonathan Spector and Chris Eagles had more than enough for spirited but limited opponents.

With so many first-team players absent, United lacked their usual swagger early on and there was no cutting edge up front, despite Smith's phenomenal work-rate. And it was Smith, typically, who brought the game to life just before the break when he latched on to Kleberson's teasing cross with a diving header which clattered against the bar.

But Smith claimed the goal he deserved within two minutes of the restart, pouncing first to put the ball into the net after Dinamo defender Adrian Iordache inadvertently steered it straight to him.

Not content with settling the tie with that strike, Smith was on hand three minutes later to add a second, trundling the ball in at the far post after everyone else had missed Gary Neville's cross.

And substitute David Bellion, on for Smith, added a third with 20 minutes remaining, calmly steering the ball into the net from just inside the area.

With games to come against Blackburn on Saturday and Everton 48 hours later, Ferguson was anxious to keep players fresh ahead of such a busy programme and the team playing out the last 20 minutes resembled the reserves more than the first team.

The only low point for United on an otherwise satisfactory night was the revelation that skipper Roy Keane will be out for up to three weeks after cracking ribs in Saturday's 2-1 win over Norwich.

But not even the temporary loss of their skipper could dampen the mood of United supporters as they prepared tocelebrate a significant double coup. With Champions League football and the subsequent 20million windfall secured, United's attention now switches to a different and altogether more urgent task - that of signing Rooney. With United the only club Rooney is interested in joining, that should be a formality, perhaps even more so than this comfortablewin.

2004-08-26T18:17:00.000+08:00

UNITED MAKE 20MILLION MOVE FOR ROONEY

By David McDonnell and Alan Nixon

MANCHESTER UNITED are prepared to break the bank and spend 25million to land Everton sensation Wayne Rooney after being panicked into a bidding war by Newcastle.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his United board made a 20million move last night after Newcastle made a similar offer for Rooney on Monday. Both are expected to be rejected by Everton.

Ferguson said: "We've made a bid today. He's a fabulous player, he showed that at Euro 2004 - and he is a young player.

"He's not the finished article yet but we've got experience of bringing young players to the club and bringing them on."

Everton are adamant Rooney, 18, will not leave Goodison Park for anything less than 25million and United's entry into the race for the teenager's signature is set to spark a bidding war.

With Newcastle ready to increase their offer to 22million today, United are likely to have to match Everton's valuation of Rooney if they want to capture him.

It is a major U-turn for Manchester United. Shareholders, who met with chief executive David Gill on Saturday, were assured the club would not be making a bid for Rooney this summer.

The Old Trafford board had originally decided to wait until the January transfer window to make a move .

They were convinced Old Trafford was Rooney's preferred destination and they could sign him for less if they waited.

But their strategy was thrown into disarray when Newcastle's bid forced Gill to table United's late offer.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who raised cash for Rooney by selling Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid for 13.4million, has been trying to get an answer out of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright for the 48 hours since he put in the offer.

Kenwright and boss David Moyes are holding out for more but now the double bid will make it hard to keep Rooney happy.

Everton want as much as they can, with Moyes now admitting that a sale could happen if the price is pitched closer to 30million.

Moyes said: "We don't want to lose Wayne but if we do, the only way is at the top price and the value we want.

"I would like to quote Bobby Robson's words: 'You're talking about buying the most exciting, brilliant young player in Europe'.

"If that is what Sir Bobby thinks, then he's got to pay the most exciting and brilliant price because his current valuation is well short."

The revelations of United's bid for Rooney came as they prepared for last night's Champions League tie with Dinamo Bucharest at Old Trafford. There were problems for Fergie when it was revealed skipper Roy Keane will be out for three weeks with cracked ribs.

2004-08-25T23:57:00.000+08:00

Real laugh off Figo Spurs link

Real Madrid have moved to quash reports that Tottenham have made a move for former Portugal winger Luis Figo.

Reports in England suggested Spurs' director of sport Frank Arnesen had flown to the Spanish capital to try and negotiate a deal for Figo with Madrid apparently willing to let the player go on a free transfer.

But Madrid issued a firm denial, insisting that Figo's immediate future is at the Bernabeu.

A statement from the club read: 'In view of the news that has appeared on Wednesday, saying that Tottenham Hotspur director of sport Frank Arnesen has spoken to Real Madrid to negotiate a possible transfer for Luis Figo, the club want to strongly point out two facts.

'No-one from Tottenham Hotspur, directly or indirectly, has approached this club to negotiate the signing of Luis Figo or any other player.

'And we want to make it clear that Luis Figo has a contract for the next two seasons and at no moment has the club considered dispensing with his services because he is one of the most important players in our squad.'

Madrid have acquired Walter Samuel, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Owen this summer as new coach Jose Antonio Camacho seeks to give his squad a more rounded look.

But there have been no suggestions that the club is looking to get rid of Figo, even though he is one of the highest earners at the Bernabeu.

The 31-year-old remains an integral part of Camacho's plans and is still one of Madrid's most marketable players.

2004-08-25T23:54:00.000+08:00

Beckham, Owen England arrival delay

David Beckham and Michael Owen will miss the start of England's preparations for the vital World Cup qualifier in Austria because they are playing in a friendly with Real Madrid.

Sven-Goran Eriksson had asked for Beckham and Owen to be allowed to miss Real's game next Tuesday night - the same day that his squad gather for the build-up to the qualifier in Vienna.

However, after talks with the Spanish club, the England coach has agreed a compromise solution in which his two key players will play only the first half in Madrid.

They will then be flown by private jet to England, meeting the FIFA-imposed requirement for all players to be on native soil by midnight four days before a competitive fixture.

It is hardly ideal for England's preparations, given that Beckham and Owen will now miss the first training with the rest of their team-mates at Arsenal's London Colney training ground.

However, Eriksson is still hopeful they will be able to take at least some part in Wednesday's session, even though they will have played the night before.

The Swede was unwilling to enter into an all-out row with Real, especially as three England players are now in Madrid, while he could not argue with FIFA regulations in any case.

Real are particularly keen to play both Beckham and Owen in the Bernabeu Trophy against Pumas de Mexico to boost ticket sales, especially with that game set to be the England striker's home debut.

Jonathan Woodgate should not be affected as he is injured and is not expected to be included in the squad named by Eriksson this weekend for the double-header fixtures against Austria and Poland.

Adrian Bevington, the Football Association's head of media, said: 'Sven-Goran Eriksson spoke with Real Madrid officials yesterday regarding the England players' participation in Real's fixture next Tuesday evening.

'It was agreed they would play for the first 45 minutes of the match in the Spanish capital before flying to England on a private jet.'

In a statement on the FA's website, he added: 'We have enjoyed a very good relationship with Real Madrid since David Beckham moved to Spain before the start of last season.

'Sven believes it is very important that this relationship is maintained with sporting director Emilio Butragueno and coach Jose Antonio Camacho for the future, particularly with such a strong English representation at Real.

'The England squad will meet up at lunchtime on Tuesday, with the Madrid-based players arriving later that evening. This falls in line with FIFA regulations.

'The Madrid-based players will therefore be available for all but the first training session during the build-up to the first 2006 World Cup qualifying fixture in Austria.'

2004-08-25T17:25:00.000+08:00

D'URSO IS DISMISSED

THE Premier League have replace referee Andy D'Urso for Manchester United and Everton's Bank Holiday Monday clash. Dermot Gallagher will take over at Old Trafford as his Essex colleague faces a Football Association charge.

D'Urso yellow-carded Blackburn midfielder Barry Ferguson twice in the defeat by Southampton but failed to send him off.

The official mentioned his mistake in his report but the FA have charged him with "less than proficiently applying the laws of the game".

Blackburn lost 3-2 with a late penalty and Ferguson was shown a second yellow card for protesting. The booking was recorded in the referee's report, despite the fact he had also noted a caution for an earlier foul.