Cannavaro out of Euro 2008

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of Euro 2008 due to an ankle injury, according to reports.
Cannavaro suffered the injury after a training ground collision with team-mate Giorgio Chiellini on Monday.
The influential centre-half lay on the turf for 20 minutes before being carried away on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
The Italian medical staff had been hopeful that Cannavaro's injury was not serious, but scans have shown up ankle ligament damage.
He will now be forced to sit out the upcoming European Championship, with the length of his absence yet to be determined.



Though the Italian Football Federation has yet to confirm Cannavaro's absence, the 34-year-old told reporters: "I'm going home."
With Cannavaro now missing from his plans, Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni will have to call up a replacement.
Daniele Bonera and Alessandro Gamberini are the likely candidates to take Cannavaro's place in the squad for the tournament.
Italy open up their Euro 2008 campaign against Holland on 9th June before the world champions play Romania and France in Group C.

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Ronaldo scare for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo left training on Monday with a pack of ice wrapped around his right ankle.

The Portuguese ace looked comfortable throughout a relaxed session, but required treatment from the medical staff before he headed for the dressing rooms.
He did not appear to be limping, or be in any pain, and the situation remains unclear as the Portugal camp refused to confirm the nature of the problem.
With their opening Euro 2008 game just five days away, Luiz Felipe Scolari will be desperate for his wing wizard to shake off the knock in time to face to Turkey.
Portugal were training at their tournament base in Neuchatel, with the players allowed to take things easy in an attempt to avoid any potential pitfalls.
Having failed to do so, Scolari will also be concerned by the fact that new Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa was once again forced to run drills away from the main group.
Dreams
The Portuguese are tipped to make light work of a group which also contains Switzerland and Czech Republic, but they will be keen to have their top talents available from the off.
They narrowly missed out on home soil four years ago, finishing as runners-up to Greece, and will be keen to go one better this time around.
Their chances of fulfilling that dream are likely to rest on the shoulders of Manchester United star Ronaldo, and a nation will currently be praying that the world's best player is a quick healer.

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CALDERON DISMISSES UNITED REQUEST

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has refused a request from Manchester United to rule out ever making a move for Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Calderon has conceded he is unlikely to sign the 23-year-old this summer.
In an interview with Spanish sports paper Marca, Calderon dismissed a formal request from Manchester United managing director David Gill for Madrid to publicly abandon their pursuit of the player.
But Calderon said signing Ronaldo was "impossible" and sought to play down the row between the two sides which has erupted in the wake of the Spanish team's public pursuit of the Portugal forward.
"At the moment it seems impossible for him to come," he said.
"We shouldn't talk about Ronaldo any more because at the moment it's impossible.
"It's an aspiration which has no chance of happening because his club have said they are not selling and we must not talk about it any more."
Calderon added: "The managing director sent me a letter telling me they will never sell him and even asking me to publicly declare that I will never sign him, which is something which doesn't make much sense."
And he said: "We have to think that at the moment, whatever Cristiano says, Manchester won't sell him."
Nevertheless, Calderon admitted that he would still love to sign the Portugal forward.
He continued: "We would love to have Cristiano or any of the (world's) great players here."
The 57 year-old also reiterated that his club have the financial muscle to prise the young winger away from Old Trafford.
He said: "The decision will be made by the coaches, but nothing is expensive or cheap on its own, before analysing what the counter-balance is from what you receive for the price you pay.
"Here (at Real Madrid), 75 million (euros) was paid six years ago for a 29-year-old player (Zinedine Zidane) and nobody questioned it.
"What I have always said is that this club want the money to be on the pitch and not in the bank, and it is (made) public that Madrid has it.
"They know what we earn, that doesn't mean the club are going to throw it away. We are not going to throw our money around.
"Last year we made signings which looked expensive, but now they look reasonable."
Calderon says he does not know how much Ronaldo would cost Real.
"I don't know. I am not aware of his contract. That is something between Cristiano and Manchester and I can't answer it," he said.
And he added: "He is still not on the market, so I cannot say. We don't even know if he will come."
The Real president also looked to play down the recent row between Madrid and United.
"Speaking more about this will only damage the relationship between the clubs.
"(Things like) occupation of countries and turning Columbus into a Spaniard have already been talked about," he said, in reference to quotes made by United number two Carlos Queiroz last week about Real's behaviour, when he accused the Spanish club of trying to 'nationalise' Ronaldo.
Calderon claims he does not know if the player wants to join Madrid.
"There is a good relationship (with Manchester United) and I have said that if someone decides to leave, it is very difficult to keep them.
"We don't know if Ronaldo wants to leave or not, that seems to me to be getting ahead of the events.
"If I talk about it, I will be criticised for having said there is a chance he will come. If it doesn't happen, it appears a failure," he said.
"So much has been said that we don't know if it's true that he wants to leave.
"We don't know if he will say nothing or if he will say something different.
"If he says something different, Manchester will have to act and if they want to negotiate with Madrid or another club, they will do so. But they have already said they won't sell."
The Real president says he will not be to blame if the deal fails to go ahead.
"If he doesn't come, I won't consider myself guilty.
"What happened with Kaka (last year) was different.
"(Sporting director Pedja) Mijatovic had it (the deal) very advanced, also with Cesc (Fabregas), and it seemed a good idea to tell (people) what our project was.
"It didn't happen and I am sorry because they would have helped us a lot."
Calderon says the Ronaldo deal is now out of his hands.
"Right now, the Cristiano thing is beyond me," he said.
"For him to come, the player will have to say that he is leaving, then Manchester have to want to sell, we will have to play... there are many circumstances which must come together."
The Real president, who has led the team to back-to-back titles since taking over from Florentino Perez, said he is happy with his squad, with or without Ronaldo.
"There is a young, balanced and unified squad (here), and I don't want to upset that. Whoever comes, I propose that it doesn't change much. It's not necessary.
"With this team I think we can win the Champions League and whatever (or whoever) helps that will be welcome.
"But this team will grow, they will be more convincing, they will understand the coach better. It shouldn't be forgotten that we won the league with a record number of points," he added

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MOURINHO IS INTER`S MAN

Inter Milan have confirmed the appointment of

former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

as Roberto Mancini's successor.
Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea in September, has been out of the game since then, biding his time until finding a suitable role to take.

The Serie A champions finally parted company with Mancini last week after months of speculation and the Portuguese boss, a Champions League winner with Porto in 2004, has signed a three-year deal at the San Siro.
Mourinho will be unveiled on Tuesady at a press conference at 11.30am local time. A statement on Inter's website, www.inter.it, confirmed: "Internazionale announce the arrival of Jose Mourinho.
"The Portuguese coach has signed a three-year contract and will work alongside Rui Farias, Silvino and Andrei Villas Boas.
"The assistant coach will be Giuseppe Baresi."
It continued: "Thanking Roberto Mancini and his staff for the success obtained in four seasons as the leader of the team, all of Internazionale has the great pleasure to welcome Jose Mourinho and his coaches."
Mourinho has big shoes to fill as Mancini led Inter to the Serie A title in each of the last three seasons.
Mancini's departure was a protracted affair, with reports last week suggesting there had been a breakdown in communication between the coach and president Massimo Moratti.
Mancini's agent claimed after Tuesday's 25-minute meeting between the pair that his client had left the club and would be replaced by Mourinho.
The Italian's dismissal was confirmed by the club on Thursday, just hours after Inter had threatened legal action because of reports they claimed did not "correspond to the truth of the facts".
Inter cited Mancini's announcement in the wake of their Champions League defeat to Liverpool on March 11 that he would step down at the end of the season as a crucial factor.
Mancini reversed his decision 24 hours later and went on to lead Inter to their third straight Serie A title, but after much speculation, his departure was confirmed on Thursday evening.
Mourinho has long been linked with the post at the San Siro.
He was appointed as manager of Chelsea back in 2004 after leading Porto to the Champions League title.
He led Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles, but could not bring the Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge in just over three years in charge at the London club.
He left Chelsea last September by mutual consent and has been linked with a host of top jobs since.
Jose Mourinho Factfile
1963: Born on January 26. Father Felix Mourinho was a former Portugal goalkeeper.
1992: Takes first high-profile role in football when being appointed to work under Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon after middle-ranking jobs at Estrela Amadora and Vitoria Setubal. Begins as Robson's translator before becoming involved in team affairs.
1993: Moves on with Robson when the veteran coach goes to Porto. In three years at Porto, the team win two league titles.
1996: Joins Barcelona in the summer of 1996 as assistant coach to Robson.
1997: Stays on at the Nou Camp after Robson departs, taking up a role under new coach Louis van Gaal.
2000: Takes his first head coaching job at Benfica but lasts just nine games before resigning due to problems in the boardroom.
2001: Appointed coach of Uniao de Leiria and guides the club into the top five of the Portuguese league midway through the 2001-02 season.
2002: Joins Porto in January and the club overcome their poor start to the league season to finish third. In Mourinho's first full season in charge, Porto win the treble of domestic league and cup, and UEFA Cup.
2004: Having already successfully defended their Portuguese league title, Porto win the Champions League title in Monaco on May 26 with a 3-0 victory over Monaco.
June 2 - Appointed manager of Chelsea.
2005: January 30 - A Sunday newspaper reports Mourinho, chief executive Peter Kenyon and Ashley Cole had a meeting in the Royal Park Hotel at Lancaster Gate - allegations constituting an illegal approach. Less than a week later the Premier League launch an inquiry.
February 23 - Following a 2-1 defeat at Barcelona - in which Didier Drogba was sent off - in the first leg of the Champions League first knock-out round, Mourinho claims Barca manager Frank Rijkaard went into referee Anders Frisk's dressing room at half-time. UEFA's official observers said they witnessed nothing untoward.
February 27 - Chelsea win their first trophy under Mourinho, the Carling Cup, with 3-2 win over Liverpool. Mourinho is involved in more controversy, having wandered along the touchline in front of the Liverpool fans putting his fingers to his lips. Mourinho is later "reminded of his responsibilities" by the FA.
March 21 - UEFA charge Mourinho, assistant boss Steve Clarke and security official Les Miles with making "wrong and unfounded" statements about the alleged meeting between Frisk and Rijkaard.
March 23 - FA charge Mourinho, Chelsea and Ashley Cole in relation to alleged 'tapping-up' hotel meeting.
March 31 - Handed two-match touchline ban and 20,000 Swiss francs (around £9,000) fine by UEFA's control and disciplinary body. Club fined 75,000 Swiss francs (£33,000).
April 30 - Chelsea seal Barclays Premiership title with 2-0 win at Bolton.
May 4 - Mourinho agrees terms on a new five-year contract.
June 1 - Found to be in breach of Premier League Rule Q, governing managers' conduct in relation to Chelsea's illegal approach to Arsenal full-back Cole. Fined £200,000 by the Premier League, later reduced to £75,000 on appeal.
2006: April 29 - Chelsea beat rivals Manchester United 3-0 to win their second consecutive Premiership title and Mourinho's fourth domestic title in a row.
2007: January 11 - Rumours Mourinho could leave Chelsea in the summer surface after he accused the Stamford Bridge board of refusing to back him in the January transfer window.
February 27 - Wins a second Carling Cup, beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium.
May - Loses Champions League semi-final to Rafael Benitez's Liverpool on penalties and sees United wrest the Barclays Premier League crown from Stamford Bridge. Gains some revenge with an extra-time win over United in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
During the close season only Florent Malouda and Juliano Belletti arrive in cash deals, with Arjen Robben, Glen Johnson and Lassana Diarra departing to balance the books as the lavish spending of previous seasons remained a thing of the past.

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Beckham always ready to captain England

David Beckham insists he will always answer England's call to be captain after taking the armband against Trinidad and Tobago last night.

Beckham led England out for their 3-0 win in Port of Spain, with the cynical view being that it will help gain Jack Warner's vote for the Football Association's 2018 World Cup bid.
Warner, from Trinidad, is FIFA vice-president and holds an important vote - and he has urged the FA to use Beckham in their bid.
'I was surprised and didn't expect it,' Beckham said. 'But I'll always answer the call and be available for my country and captain them as well - it was a surprise but I am honoured to do so.'
Gareth Barry opened the scoring with his first England goal, then Jermain Defoe scored either side of half-time.
'It was a tough performance and the manager was telling us before the game that even though it was a friendly we had to take it seriously,' he added. 'It was the centenary game for them but they wanted to beat England and we had to put in a good performance and I think we did that.
'The players in the camp are motivated and whether we have got experienced players or young players we have to play as one.
'The respect is there [for manager Fabio Capello] and there for one another and that is how it needs to be and the qualifiers are the big thing for us now.'
Defoe was delighted to get back on the scoresheet, his first international goals since 2006.
He told BBC1: 'I enjoyed it. It was important to get the win and I'm delighted to get two goals.
'To play for your country is the best thing in the world. The lads have had long seasons but they're all here and we've enjoyed every minute of it.
'I just want to keep learning. When a new manager comes in everyone starts on the same level and to get two goals, I'm delighted.'

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Ballack: Lehmann Is The Right Choice

The Chelsea midfielder has revealed that he has full faith in the 38 year old even though the media and some fans are still doubting whether he should be the countries first-choice keeper for Euro 2008.

Lehmann was partially at fault for both of the goals Belarus scored against Germany earlier in the week, but looked far more assured yesterday as Germany staged a comeback to defeat Serbia 2-1.
Despite a severe lack of first-team action at Arsenal this season, Ballack is convinced the veteran is the right man for the job.
"There is no discussion about him on the team" he said.
"He's had two more matches to gain playing time now. He is very experienced. We trust him and we stick together" the German captain added.
Ballack himself produced a real captain’s performance against Serbia as he drove the side forward and scored the winning goal from a well worked free kick.
"It was important to win the final warm-up match because it gives us a good feeling and a lot of confidence for the tournament" he explained.
"But we need to get better. There are still a few things missing.
"We are calmer, more stable and more experienced than we were two years ago at the World Cup," he said.
"Back then some players played their first big tournament. Now we have more stability in what we do. The team has matured.
"When the tournament starts we will see in what shape we are in and how we play the matches.
"It depends on whether we can start a run. All in all you can never give a prediction beforehand."

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CAPELLO DEFENDS BECKHAM DECISION

England boss Fabio Capello insisted David Beckham's return as captain in Sunday's international against Trinidad and Tobago was not a cynical move designed to earn votes for their 2018 World Cup bid.
The Los Angeles Galaxy star will wear the armband for the first time since the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in Germany when England take to the field for their final match of the 2007-08 season in Port of Spain.
Two years ago Beckham ended the Portugal game in tears after suffering an ankle injury and gave up the captaincy in an emotional statement 24 hours later.
But now he is set to lead out his country for the 59th time.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is the fourth different captain of Capello's six-month reign after Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
England's end-of-season trip to the Caribbean has been viewed in many quarters as a way of gaining favour with FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago football federation special advisor Jack Warner ahead of the Football Association's expected bid to host the 2018 World Cup bid.
But Capello is adamant he was put under no pressure by the FA to aid that campaign by giving 33-year-old Beckham the captaincy.
Capello said: "Beckham will be captain tomorrow but the appointment is not a political move. I work for the game - not the political side of things.
"The political side is for the FA and they have not suggested to me that Beckham should be captain tomorrow. There was no pressure put on me.
"No-one could do that to me. I decided as I have decided throughout my life and when I was manager of a club. Beckham was very happy when I told him today."
Capello knows all about Beckham's qualities after the midfielder won over the Italian during his time in charge of Real Madrid after vowing at one stage he would never pick Beckham to play for the Spanish giants again.
Now he seems to be a strong candidate to start England's World Cup campaign after it appeared his international career was over after being frozen out for a year by Steve McClaren.
He said: "I know David very well from our time together at Real Madrid and he did well for me after some problems at the start.
"I can change my mind about things and only stupid people never change their mind. He was very important for Real at the end."
Capello revealed he had Beckham in mind to lead the side for at least one game after he became England coach six months ago.
He said: "We had the four games and he was one of the players I was considering to be captain for a game along with Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
"I know he gave up the England captaincy a couple of years ago but you can never say never. He was captain for a long time.
"Will he start the World Cup qualifiers? We will have to wait and see but David Beckham played well in the first half against the USA and will be captain tomorrow."
Capello insisted the game in Port of Spain was an important exercise even though seven of the players who took part in the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea have been excused duty.
He said: "It is an important game. You want to know if the players have confidence when they play away from England. It will be important to see if that is the case."
Manchester United captain Ferdinand will be in action and Capello revealed: "He wanted to be part of things out here.
"He could have had a rest and have not come. It was his decision. He wanted to be involved."
The likes of Joe Hart, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott could play some part and Capello admitted: "I have some idea to give some players a chance for the first time."

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