England made it four wins from four with Matthew Upson's help away to Belarus on Wednesday
15.10.2008
Matthew Upson played the full 90 minutes as England made their best start to World Cup qualifying in more than 30 years with a 3-1 win in Belarus.
Fabio Capello's men have won all four of their opening games to hold a commanding lead at the top of Group 6. Steven Gerrard's eleventh-minute shot from range was cancelled out just before the half-hour mark by Pavel Sitko but Wayne Rooney took over after the interval. He struck first from Emile Heskey's left-wing cross before wrapping up the win with a deft finish from Gerrard's pass with 15 minutes to play.
Upson was winning his eleventh cap and had a relatively comfortable night alongside stand-in skipper Rio Ferdinand, in the absence of usual captain John Terry. He could even have added a fourth, going close with a free header in the closing stages. The No6 was the only West Ham United player in the party that travelled to Minsk after Robert Green's withdrawal with a sore knee. The goalkeeper should be fit to play away to Hull City on Sunday.
In the European qualifying zone, the winners of each group will progress to the 2010 World Cup. The eight best runners-up will then be drawn into four play-off matches with the winners of each two-legged tie joining the pool winners in South Africa.
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World Cup dream on for Behrami - WHUFC
Switzerland have taken six points from six to keep alive Valon Behrami's hopes of reaching South Africa
15.10.2008
Valon Behrami's dreams of a second trip to the World Cup finals are still alive after helping Switzerland to a superb 2-1 win in Greece.
The Euro 2008 co-hosts had suffered a major setback last month with a 2-1 home defeat by minnows Luxembourg. However, they won by the same scoreline against Latvia in St Gallen on Saturday and then followed that up tonight in style against the 2004 European champions, who had won their first three games. Behrami again played the full 90 minutes in a midfield role.
After Behrami was upended on a driving run into the area, Alexander Frei put the visitors in front from the penalty spot just before half-time in Athens but Angelos Charisteas restored parity in the 68th minute. Blaise N'Kufo, the weekend match-winner, restored the visitors' advantage in the 77th minute after rounding the keeper on a breakaway.
Switzerland are third in Group 2, a point behind Israel and two adrift of Greece with both nations still to travel to the central European country. In the European qualifying zone, the winners of each group will progress to the 2010 World Cup. The eight best runners-up will then be drawn into four play-off matches with the winners of each two-legged tie joining the pool winners in South Africa.
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Duo just lose out in Germany - WHUFC
James Collins and Craig Bellamy were on the losing side but can hold their heads up high with Wales
15.10.2008
James Collins and Craig Bellamy both played the full 90 minutes as Wales narrowly lost out 1-0 in Germany in a gritty World Cup qualifier.
The West Ham United duo turned in excellent performances but could not prevent the home team in Monchengladbach from stealing the points through Piotr Trochowski's well-taken 72nd-minute goal. Collins was imperious at the back, not least with some timely headers and blocks, on what was his first senior start since last December and a knee ligament injury. Describing his club-mate's man of the match display as "outstanding", Bellamy added: " We can take heart from it but we have still lost twice [away from home in the group]. We are doing well but just seem to be falling short."
It was captain Bellamy, getting a welcome 90 minutes after his 80-minute run-out in Saturday's 2-0 win against Liechtenstein, that held the best hope for the Wales side. He went close early in the second half with the score level before a moment of brilliance in the 80th-minute nearly produced an equaliser. He raced away on the left of the attack, beat his man with ease and then cut inside. The striker then slipped the ball across the penalty area but Chris Gunter could not convert.
Wales are level on six points with second-placed Russia in Group 4 but have played a game more than their rivals. Both teams are four points adrift of Germany and a key encounter could be Russia's return trip to Wales next September, having won 1-0 in Moscow last month. In the European qualifying zone, the winners of each group will progress to the 2010 World Cup. The eight best runners-up will then be drawn into four play-off matches with the winners of each two-legged tie joining the pool winners in South Africa.
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Neill leads Australia to victory - WHUFC
Lucas Neill helped Australia to an impressive 4-0 home win over Qatar on Wednesday afternoon
15.10.2008
Lucas Neill will be heading back to England on a high after he led Australia to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Qatar in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Socceroos captain played the full 90 minutes of the Asian zone World Cup qualifier. As well as ensuring the home team kept a clean sheet, he got forward to support his side's attacks at every opportunity. Midway through the second half, the No2 was unlucky to see his deft ball into the visitors' area headed just over by Josh Kennedy.
The game was delayed by 30 minutes due to a torrential storm, but once it got under way two goals from Brett Emerton and one apiece from Tim Cahill and Kennedy gave Australia a comfortable win. The result leaves the Socceroos top of Group A with six points from six after Japan could only draw 1-1 with Uzbekistan at home.
Fifa 09
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Noble knows seven rivals - WHUFC
The full lineup has finally been completed for next summer's European Under-21 Championship
15.10.2008
Mark Noble and his England team-mates have learned who they will be up against at the 2009 European Under-21 Championship next summer.
After the 5-4 aggregate success against Wales in Tuesday night's play-off, the Young Lions made sure of a place in the eight-nation finals in Sweden. Along with the hosts, the other six countries involved after success in their respective two-legged ties are Italy - formerly coached by Gianfranco Zola - Spain, Germany, Serbia, Finland and Belarus.
The draw will take place on Wednesday 3 December in Gothenburg. The Netherlands - winners of the last two editions - have not won the right to defend their trophy. The finals will be held between 15 and 29 June, with the chance still for the club's Under-19 internationals James Tomkins, Jordan Spence, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears to stake their claim before the season end to make it into Stuart Pearce's 23-man squad.
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Further delay in Tevez case - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 15th October 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United and Sheffield United will have to wait until the end of November before discovering whether or not the Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear the case. A brief statement released on the CAS website this afternoon confirmed that the arbitration procedure (or preliminary hearing) had begun, but a decision on whether to hear the case in full had been deferred. "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirms that a statement of appeal has been filed by West Ham United football club against Sheffield United football club with respect to the interim award of 18 September 2008 that was rendered by an arbitration panel of the English Football Association (FA)," the statement read. West Ham United requests the annulment of the FA arbitration panel's award. The dispute is related to the validity of the registration of the Argentinean football player, Carlos Tevez with West Ham United at the beginning of the football season 2006/2007."The CAS has initiated an arbitration procedure and will first examine its jurisdiction as a preliminary issue after both clubs have had the opportunity to file written submissions on this point.
"For the moment, no decision has been made with respect to the holding of a hearing. In any event, a decision on jurisdiction is not to be expected before the end of November 2008."
The arbitration panel to which the CAS refer found in Sheffield United's favour last month. Blades Chairman Kevin McCabe - to whom this latest news signifies yet another setback in his so-called 'campaign for fairness' - is yet to respond.
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Hammers lodge CAS appeal - SSN
West Ham hope to avoid paying compensation
Last updated: 15th October 2008
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed that West Ham have filed an appeal against Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair. The Hammers were ordered to pay compensation to the Blades by a Football Association arbitration panel last month. West Ham immediately outlined their intention to contest the decision and they have now taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS have now opened proceedings to determine if they can hear West Ham's appeal against the ruling which could cost the club millions. A statement read: "The CAS has initiated an arbitration procedure and will first examine its jurisdiction as a preliminary issue after both clubs have had the opportunity to file written submissions on this point. "For the moment, no decision has been made with respect to the holding of a hearing. In any event, a decision on jurisdiction is not to be expected before the end of November 2008." Argentine duo Tevez and Javier Mascherano arrived at Upton Park in the summer of 2006 but it later emerged that businessman Kia Joorabchian had engineered the transfer and that his company part-owned Tevez. The Premier League found West Ham guilty of failing to declare this and breaching the rules on third-party ownership. The Hammers were handed a £5.5m fine by the Premier League but there was no points deduction, and Tevez played an instrumental role in keeping West Ham in the top flight as Sheffield United went down.
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Hammers close in on shirt sponsor deal - Newham Recorder
15 October 2008
WEST HAM are set to have their new shirt sponsor in place in time for the live television clash with Arsenal on October 26, WRITES DAVE EVANS.
Negotiations are still going on with two or three companies, but the Hammers are keen to get a new sponsor in place to show the world when they face the Gunners at Upton Park, earning them maximum publicity.
It is another ray of light after the economic gloom and selling rumours that blighted the club last week, and shows that perhaps the Icelandic owners are serious about keeping hold of their east London asset.
The deal should earn West Ham a much-needed £4million a year over the next five years, and will go a long way to recouping the losses they suffered with the collapse of previous sponsors XL Holidays, who were partly owned by Hammers chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.
That collapse cost West Ham something in the region of £5million and coupled with the problems that have beset the chairman back in Iceland, it left a substantial hole in his finances.
An online gambling site is said to be one of the possible shirt sponsors, though there are parties interested from extremely varied parts of the business world.
With the current problems that have beset the beleaguered Hammers in the last month or so, you would think that perhaps they were not the sort of club a business would want to be associated with.
But in a world where Premier League football is one of the biggest entertainment products around, and where almost all publicity is good publicity, it seems there are a lot of businesses prepared to back the Hammers with their money.
A decision is expected in the next couple of days, but it seems unlikely that the new shirts will be ready for Sunday's trip to Hull.
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Nani Dismisses Behrami To Roma Rumours - Goal.com
Technical director of West Ham United, Gianluca Nani has dismissed rumours linking Velon Behrami with a quick return to Serie A with the rivals of his previous club Lazio, Roma...
The Swiss international has made a steady start to life at Upton Park after settling into the sides of both Alan Curbishley and Gianfranco Zola respectively. However, his agent Alessandro Beltrami caused a storm in a teacup by declaring that Serie A giants Lazio were interested in launching a bid for the 23 year-old in January.
He told Laromasiamonoi.it: "Roma have inquired after Valon. They have given me their word that they are keen on the lad and willing to close a deal."His comments were quashed however, by Italian transfer supremo Gianluca Nani. The West Ham executive insisted that the Hammers' latest investment would be staying put.
He told the press this evening: "I am tired of responding to questions on Behrami. I repeat - Behrami is not for sale and Roma have never asked for the player.
"Before you start any kind of transfer, Rome must speak with West Ham, which has not happened. Behrami is our player, we have high hopes for him so I see no reason to sell. "Even if an offer arrived from Rome for €50 million we would not sell. It is not a matter of numbers but of will on our part to keep the player."
Peter Staunton
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Mixed night for Irons' World Cup hopefuls - Echo
11:25pm Wednesday 15th October 2008
By Rob Pritchard »
WEST Ham United's Matthew Upson helped a Wayne Rooney-inspired England to a 3-1 2010 World Cup qualifying victory in Belarus last night. The Hammers centre-back started as Fabio Capello's side continued their fine start to their campaign with a fine win in Minsk. Manchester United striker Rooney scored twice, while Liverpool's Steven Gerrard hit the other as England completed their best ever start to a World Cup qualifying campaign. England are five points clear at the top of their group. Elsewhere, Craig Bellamy and James Collins produced heroic displays as Wales fell to a narrow 1-0 Group Four defeat in Germany. Collins, making his first competitive start since last December, was in particlarly impressive in Moenchengladbach where Piotr Trochowski scored the only goal with 22 minutes remaining.
In Athens, West Ham's Valon Behrami was a starter as Switzerland earned a superb 2-1 Group Two win over Greece. Alexander Frei and Blaise Nkufo were on target for the Swiss, while Angelos Charisteas replied for the Greeks. Earlier in the day, Irons captain Lucas Neill had skippered Australia to a comprehensive 4-0 Asian qualifying group win over Qatar in Brisbane. Everton's Tim Cahill opened the scoring for the Socceroos before Blackburn Rovers' winger Brett Emerton added a brace.
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Quashie relieved by McLeish move - Scotsman
Published Date: 16 October 2008
NIGEL Quashie last night thanked Alex McLeish for helping end his 16-month West Ham anguish. The former Scotland cap has joined Birmingham City on a month's loan after playing just eight times since a £1.75million move to Upton Park. Quashie said: "It has been a really frustrating time and I did think I would have to pack it in."
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West Ham academy boss Carr: Kids will get chance under Zola
16.10.08 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United academy boss Tony Carr is confident his brightest players will get a senior chance under manager Gianfranco Zola.
"I think a lot of young players will blossom with Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke with the way they are working them," Carr told whufc.com.
"Speaking to Gianfranco, he's very much youth-orientated and wants the young players to do well and to give them opportunities. It's my responsibility to ensure that they are good enough and hopefully we are taking steps in that direction."
The likes of Marek Stech, Jordan Spence and Junior Stanislas are all on the verge of joining the six homegrown players at the club who have made their first-team bow - namely James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Kyel Reid, Zavon Hines and Freddie Sears. Carr is optimistic they will not be the last. "The idea is the youth team every Saturday is the vehicle for young players to develop.
"Whether we win cups or are top or bottom of the league, the objective is the same and that is to push one or two players into that first team squad and that's the aim this year. We look at Freddie Sears and he's old hat now as he's been with the first team for nearly a year. So we're now looking at the next one or two that can make the step and hopefully by the end of the season one or two of them will have come to the fore."
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