Betting: Back Southgate to have his Three Lions roaring late against Malta October 6, 2016 GARETH Southgate heads into the Three Lions’ den tomorrow in the wake of Sam Allardyce’s sacking, and couldn’t have asked for an easier start. At 176th in the world, Malta are the lowest ranked team in England’s World Cup qualifying group, some 59 places below next worst Lithuania. In the overall FIFA list, they sit between Suriname and Laos. The Maltese were routed 5-1 by [...]
Malta fact file: Everything you need to know about England’s opponents at Wembley on Saturday October 6, 2016 As far as easy starts go, England caretaker boss Gareth Southgate couldn't have hoped for a better opponent than Malta for his first game in charge. The Three Lions' opponents are 50/1 outsiders to cause an upset at Wembley this weekend. Read more: Southgate has chance to stake claim for England manager's job on permanent basis, insists [...]
Giving World Cup to Qatar and Russia may be best thing to happen to football, says Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani October 5, 2016 One of football governing body Fifa’s leading officials has suggested that the controversial votes to stage the World Cup in Qatar and Russia “may be the best thing” to have happened to the game. Victor Montagliani – a vice-president of Fifa and head of the Concacaf confederation which governs North America, Central America and the [...]
Sports and second screens: How stadium designers and broadcasters are dealing with the smartphone revolution October 5, 2016 Pep Guardiola isn't the only figure in elite sports for whom the prevalence of smartphone use has disrupted business as usual The Manchester City manager has cut off 3g and Wi-Fi connection from the club's training complex in order to pull his players' gaze away from screen and back onto the team. Yet for broadcasters, rights holders, club [...]
European leagues threaten to rebel against Uefa over “totally crazy” changes to European club competition October 5, 2016 The chairman of Europe's football leagues insists they are ready to defy Uefa over the governing body's "totally crazy" plans for changes to the Champions League and Europa League. Lars-Christer Olsson said the leagues might break their agreement not to schedule domestic fixtures on the same night as Uefa competitions unless changes set to take effect from 2018 were scrapped. [...]
Gareth Southgate has chance to stake claim for England manager’s job on permanent basis, insists skipper Wayne Rooney October 4, 2016 England skipper Wayne Rooney insists interim manager Gareth Southgate has a huge chance to press his claim to be named Three Lions boss on a permanent basis following the shock departure of predecessor Sam Allardyce. Southgate has been entrusted with the England reins for the next four matches after Allardyce’s tenure was brought to a [...]
I’m not sure Gareth Southgate is ready for the England job but seven points from three games will probably be enough to get it October 4, 2016 It was a decision effectively forced on both parties but it is not difficult to see why Football Association chiefs were happy to put Gareth Southgate in temporary charge of the England team. Southgate is an easy and sensible choice, having grown accustomed to the England set-up in three years as coach of the Under-21s, [...]
Bob Bradley admits he could not turn down Swansea job and chance to manage in the Premier League October 4, 2016 Swansea's incoming manager Bob Bradley insists he would have liked to have seen out the season with Le Havre but felt unable to turn down a belated chance to work in the Premier League. The former United States coach had long been tipped to become the first American to manage in England’s top flight before [...]
MPs summon Football Association chiefs following allegations of corruption in English game October 4, 2016 Football Association chiefs have been summoned to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport select committee later this month over the latest allegations of corruption in the game. Sam Allardyce’s abrupt departure as England manager last week was the most high-profile consequence of an undercover newspaper investigation into the football industry. Allardyce was not accused of [...]
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis receives 20 per cent pay rise to £2.6m October 4, 2016 Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis enjoyed a £440,000 increase in his salary last season, despite a trophy-less season for the Gunners. Gazidis' salary increased by 20 per cent to £2.64m, a sum that could make the American the highest paid director in the Premier League. Daniel Levy, chairman of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, was the [...]