Sven Goran Eriksson was speculated by media as the likely candidate to succeed Roy Hodgson after Dutchman Marton Jol ruled himself out of the shortlist. Dave Jones the former Wolves and current manager of Cardiff City is believed to be the latest candidate in the running for Craven Cottage managerial position.

As quoted by Skysports News, Al Fayed said:
“The chairman is obviously confident that we will have someone in place but we won’t be rushed into making a decision.

“There is no deadline. The chairman wants to make sure that he has the right man for the job and will make that decision as and when he sees necessary.

“We have our second friendly of the pre-season tour of Sweden tomorrow and the chairman is very happy with the way that preparations are going under Ray Lewington so we are not panicking here.

“It’s business as usual. Ray Lewington is doing a great job with the pre-season campaign and the managerial situation will be resolved as and when we have the right man for the job.”

The Ivorian had been troubled by the groin injury all through the last season.

Chelsea revealed Drogba had successfully undergone “minimal invasive surgery” and he is set to be sidelined for three weeks.

As a result of the operation, he would now miss the Community Shield cash with Manchester United next month and might find it hard to get fit in time for the Premier League opener against West Brom.

Manezes was offered the job by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) shortly after original choice Muricy Ramalho’s club Fluminense refused to release him.

Manezes has to his credit the bringing back of popular clubs Corinthians and Gremio to Brazil’s top division in recent years. But his task as Brazil’s national coach will be definitely tougher as the World Cup in four-year’s time, which they will be hosting, seen as a must-win by the whole of Brazil.

A statement on the Brazilian Football Confederation’s (CBF) website said: “Mano Menezes was one of a shortlist of three coaches and had his name ratified after a conversation with (CBF president) Ricardo Teixeira, when he showed himself to be in tune with the rebuilding project drawn up by the CBF for the 2014 World Cup.”

Mourinho said:
“This year the club will change direction, the signings will be players of lesser status and projection.

“My preference are players that have room for improvement. Above all to create a balanced squad. To be more competitive and have more options there will be three or four more additions.”

He further added:
“Cristiano is a player of the highest quality in all its forms and you can only expect great things from him. Nobody can say that Ronaldo is not a great professional.”

Khedira was influential in Germany’s world cup campaign and remembered for his headed goal that secured 3rd place for his country. Khedira, Ozil and Mueller were among the best young players of the tournament.

And here is what Mourinho has to say regarding Khedira’s pursuit:
“We’re not going to be kings of the [transfer] market. I’ll bet on the usual philosophy of Madrid, signing players with projection, with more room for learning. We signed [Angel] Di Maria, who it’s true that he was expensive [€30 million], but he has great potential, and we go for [Sami] Khedira, with a huge room for improvement. It is a market direction that I love,” the Special One is quoted as saying by AS.

“We need a defender and a midfielder, but with balance and without dramatics. There is a great base from last season and that will give competition to the group. It is complicated, because when Madrid is interested in a player prices soar so astronomically.”

Murphy as joined Celtic on a three year deal, after failing to get a regular starting place at Sunderland.

After joining Celtic, he said:
“We want to win, that’s the main objective here,” he said. “I also want to stake a claim to be first choice striker, that’s my first aim.

“It’s going to be hard because there are some good strikers here but that’s the first thing I need to do, make sure the manager wants me to be his number one.

“That’s what I’ve come here to hopefully achieve.

“I just want to get into the team as quickly as possible.

“It’s going to be hard work but I think if I put in the work and the effort – which I will do – hopefully I can start every game and play a big part in winning the title.

“I’ve been used as a left-midfielder quite a lot in my career, which is not my position, it’s a centre-forward.

“I know, if given the chance to play as a striker and a run of games, I can score goals, especially in a team like Celtic who will be attacking a lot.”

The 1998 World Cup quarter-final was an unforgettable match for the former defensive midfielder Dunga because he was appearing for the last time as a Brazilian national player and scored the fourth penalty in a penalty shootout for the victors.

— Contributed by Rameez Samar —

The entertaining game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg ended 3-2 in favour of the Slovaks as the reigning World Champions joined fellow finalists from the last edition of the tournament, France, on the exit list. This is the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that both finalists from the previous edition of the tournament have been knocked out in the opening round.

The result also means the Azzuri have failed to make it past the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1974. The shock victory sends Slovakia into the knockout stage along with Paraguay who drew 0-0 against New Zealand.

(Photo: Reuters)

The reason was the marathon match between American John Isner and France’s Nicolas Mahut which is still unfinished after 10 staggering hours of play. The score was 59-59 in the final set when bad light stopped play.

The match is just another epic for US fans after their football side scored a stoppage time winner, a 91st minute Donovan strike, against Algeria yesterday to move into the pre-quarters. On the other hand it might have diverted the attention of some French supporters at least, making them forget their team’s woeful display in the World Cup.

Even for British fans it was a breath of fresh air and provided some much needed entertainment after they struggled through to the knockout stage at the World Cup only to find Germany waiting for them in the pre-quarters with a possible quarterfinal against the good-looking Argentines.

The scoreboard at the moment reads: Mahut vs. Isner 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 59-59.

The game would resume on Court 18 at around about 3.30 or 4pm (UK time) this afternoon.

The Azzuri are aware that a defeat at the hands of the Slovaks at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg would definitely put an end to their title defence.

As group-leaders Paraguay (4 points) take on New Zealand (2 points), Italy (2 points) want nothing less than a win against Slovakia (1 point) so that their progress to the next round is not dependant on the result of the other game.

However, if the Italians are to play a draw against Slovakia interesting situations could develop. In case of an Italian draw; a Paraguayan victory over the Kiwis would send Italy through along with Paraguay, whereas a New Zealand win against Paraguay would mean that they both go through sending the Azzuri home.

But the most intriguing scenario would arise if both the ties in group F today end as draws: Paraguay would top the group but Italy and New Zealand would be tied on points as well as on goal difference. So it would go down to goals scored, and as they stand prior to today’s games even goals scored are equal (2 each). This means that in case of both games ending as draws the side (Italy or New Zealand) that scores more goals today would go through. And what if they both score the same number of goals? They would be tied on goals scored as well. The next point in FIFA rules to decide such a tiebreaker is the head-to-head record and these two drew that game as well. Then we would be left with the last option to decide who goes through from amongst the two and that is to draw lots!

In this way; if we get similar draws (draws with the same score-line) in today’s games in group F, a team would survive and one would get eliminated from a FIFA World Cup for the very first on non-footballing grounds (by drawing lots).

So Italian and Kiwi fans should both keep their fingers crossed, and pray & hope that they do not run out of luck as they might need it the most today.