Danny Welbeck ripe for England at Euro 2012, says Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped Danny Welbeck to make Fabio Capello's squad for the European Championship finals this summer. Welbeck has already played for England, and has a good chance of playing for United at Anfield this afternoon as Wayne Rooney is not certain of shaking off a leg injury picked ... continued at The Guardian
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Coyle wants Trotters credit Owen Coyle has urged Bolton to go and get the credit their performances deserve against Swansea in the FA Cup fourth round. The Trotters were excellent in their 3-1 win over Liverpool last week, but rather than receiving plaudits for their display, the media sought to focus on how bad Liverpool were ... continued at SkySports
England roundup-United back in Liverpool for tense Cup game LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Brief news on Friday ahead of this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round matches (times GMT): * Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has called on fans and players to act responsibly when his team go to Anfield for their first match against Liverpool since Luis Suarez was ... continued at The Guardian
Redknapp: Deals put home at risk
Harry Redknapp told police his home was at risk after he lost millions of pounds in disastrous investments, a court has heard. The Tottenham Hotspur boss urged detectives to ask his solicitor if he had "ever come across anyone as bad, businesswise". He said he lost £6 million in a property venture ... continued at The Guardian
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Redknapp 'lost £250k aiding friend' Harry Redknapp lost £250,000 in a bid to save his friend's management job at Oxford United, a court has heard. The Tottenham Hotspur manager initially told Jim Smith "What's it got to do with me?" after being approached about an American takeover bid at the club. But when Mr Smith replied "Harry ... continued at The Guardian
Harry Redknapp: Happy to return to football Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is relishing the prospect of returning to the dugout for Friday night's FA Cup game against Watford, according to his assistant Kevin Bond. Redknapp has been almost completely cut off from his role as manager this week as he has been at Southwark Crown Court ... continued at Sporting Life
Rafael Nadal triumphs over Roger Federer in epic Australian Open semi
In a couple of those courtside television interviews that seem frivolous at the time, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were asked separately at the start of this Australian Open what part of the other's game they would like to have for their own. Each said the forehand. Nadal might like to rethink ... continued at The Guardian
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Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer to reach Australian Open final Rafael Nadal produced some scintillating tennis to come from one set down to beat Roger Federer and reach his second Australian Open final. The world number two, who won the 2009 title, lost an opening set tie-break but hit back to take the next three and win 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Third seed ... continued at BBC Sport
Australian Open 2012: Roger Federer stays upbeat despite another grand slam defeat by Rafael Nadal Three years ago, these men met in a five-set Australian Open final here in Melbourne. And after Nadal had pulled out another eye-bulging, fist-pumping victory to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, Federer dissolved into floods of tears that took everyone watching by surprise. His response on ... continued at Daily Telegraph
Pakistan v England: Jonathan Agnew column
England ended the third day of the second Test against Pakistan thinking they are well placed to level the series and they look bang on course. However, the partnership shared by Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali was frustrating for the tourists and showed some fight from the hosts. It was a good effort to ... continued at BBC Sport
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Sultans of spin? David Lloyd believes England will win the second Test against Pakistan - if they can negate the spin threat of Saeed Ajmal. The tourists seized the initiative on day three, racking up a first innings total of 327 - thanks to some excellent lower-order hitting from Stuart Broad - and then restricting ... continued at SkySports
Pakistan v England: Monty Panesar haul puts tourists on top Monty Panesar claimed three wickets as England took a firm grip on the second Test against Pakistan on day three in Abu Dhabi. The left-arm spinner removed Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to help reduce Pakistan to 54-4. Azhar Ali (46 not out) and Asad Shafiq (35 not out) shared an ... continued at BBC Sport
Australian Open 2012: Maria Sharapova in women's final against Victoria Azarenka after defeating Petra Kvitova
Sharapova, who won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to move through to a meeting with Victoria Azarenka in the title-decider, was overpowered at times but found the reserves to advance. Saturday's champion will also become the new world No 1, taking over from Caroline Wozniacki, who will drop to No 4. "I just felt in ... continued at Daily Telegraph
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Victoria Azarenka brimming with confidence – and grunts If Victoria Azarenka is nervous about appearing in her first grand slam final here on Saturday she is doing a pretty good job of hiding it. Her clash with Maria Sharapova is no contest in terms of experience – the Russian won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old and has added two more grand slam titles ... continued at The Guardian
Azarenka expects to hear Sharapova loud and clear MELBOURNE, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka is fed up with the hubbub surrounding her serial grunting but admits the noise from her Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova will carry far and wide. The 22-year-old Belarusian has reached her first grand slam final on the back of a bruising ... continued at The Guardian
Australia v India: Tourists sliding towards whitewash
India are slipping towards a 4-0 series whitewash - and an eighth consecutive Test defeat - with one day remaining in the final Test against Australia. Ricky Ponting's 60 not out allowed the hosts to declare at 167-5 just after lunch in Adelaide, settting India an implausible victory target of 500 ... continued at BBC Sport
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Ashwin - India not embarrassed Ravi Ashwin admitted India were "extremely disappointed but not embarrassed" by their woeful performances in Australia. The tourists closed day four of the final Test on 166-6 in pursuit of a victory target of 500, leaving them requiring a lower-order miracle to avoid a 4-0 series whitewash. Off ... continued at SkySports
Australia close in on 4-0 whitewash of hapless India in Adelaide Australia continued to march towards a 4-0 series whitewash of India on day four of the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval as the tourists closed on 166 for six. Set a record fourth-innings run chase of 500 to conjure a miraculous victory, India are still 333 runs in arrears with only four wickets in hand ... continued at The Guardian
FA chairman Bernstein defends ref over Balotelli charge
Football Association chairman David Bernstein has backed Howard Webb following Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's violent conduct charge. Referee Webb was accused by Balotell's agent Mino Raiola of acting like a "coward" after Sunday's win over Spurs. But Bernstein insists: "His ability and ... continued at BBC Sport
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Mario Balotelli's agent claims Manchester City forward may quit England over pressure of Premier League Raiola, who labelled World Cup referee Howard Webb a “coward” for telling the FA that he would have dismissed Balotelli during Sunday’s 3-2 victory against Tottenham had he seen the Parker incident, has admitted for the first time that the relentless focus on the 21-year-old Italian could ... continued at Daily Telegraph
Mario Balotelli feels 'persecuted', says agent Mino Raiola Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola says the player feels "a little bit persecuted" after being given a four-match ban after clashing with Scott Parker in Sunday's game with Spurs. Raiola says Balotelli is "very ... continued at BBC Sport
Rory McIlroy mistake leaves Olesen in Abu Dhabi lead
Rory McIlroy carelessly incurred a two-shot penalty in a bizarre second round at the Abu Dhabi Championship as he fell from joint leader to tied third. The Northern Irishman's level-par round of 72 featured two double bogeys, two bogeys and six birdies. McIlroy is in a group of seven players on five ... continued at BBC Sport
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Tiger looks as if he's finally out of the Woods ABU DHABI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Golf fans poured through the gates on the Abu Dhabi sabbath on Friday to get a glimpse of the world's top-ranked player, the former number one and the pretender to the throne and the galleries were not disappointed. Tiger Woods produced the sort of assured performance ... continued at The Guardian
Dane Olesen leads as Tiger steals Abu Dhabi show * Olesen sets the pace after second-round 67 (Updates at end of round) ABU DHABI, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Former world number one Tiger Woods gave clear evidence he was back to his best after carefully plotting his way to a second-round 69 to move within two shots of the lead at the Abu Dhabi ... continued at The Guardian
JOORABCHIAN: TEVEZ COULD STAY AT CITY
Carlos Tevez could stay at Manchester City until the end of the season, his advisor Kia Joorabchian has said. The Argentinian is hoping to secure a move away from the club before the closure of this month's transfer window. The 27-year-old's representatives have held talks with AC Milan, Inter Milan ... continued at Sporting Life
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Carlos Tevez to end Manchester City strike after losing hope of move Carlos Tevez is set to end his strike at Manchester City after reluctantly accepting the Premier League leaders may have priced him out of the transfer market. Tevez is pessimistic about the chances of a move to Milan happening before Tuesday's transfer deadline and intends to report back for duty ... continued at The Guardian
Tevez could yet stay at City, says advisor LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Carlos Tevez could stay at Manchester City until the end of the season even though he has not kicked a ball for them since September and is unlikely ever to do so again. The 27-year-old Argentine international, banned, fined and in self-imposed exile in his homeland, has ... continued at The Guardian
Wenger can live with jeers
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is adamant he can cope with the Gunners boo-boys as he concentrates on guiding his side to a strong finish this season. The North Londoners suffered a third straight Premier League defeat when they lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United last Sunday, during which Wenger's ... continued at SkySports
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Walcott takes responsibility Theo Walcott believes Arsenal's players must look at themselves and take the pressure off manager Arsene Wenger, while he has tipped Jack Wilshere to become a better player than Cesc Fabregas. Wenger's position as manager has come under scrutiny this season and his decision to replace Alex Oxlade ... continued at SkySports
RVP - Critics making a mistake Captain Robin van Persie has warned critics they will live to regret writing off Arsenal this season. Much has been made of the fall-out from the Gunners' 2-1 home defeat by Manchester United last Sunday, which left them five points behind Chelsea after a third successive Premier League loss ... continued at SkySports