WHUFC.com
Goalscorer Matthew Upson endured World Cup woe with England as Germany
cruised to the quarter-finals
27.06.2010
The 2010 FIFA World Cup adventure is over for Robert Green and Matthew Upson
after England lost 4-1 to Germany in their last-16 tie on Sunday. The
contest in Bloemfontein hinged on a disallowed Frank Lampard 'goal' which
was clearly over the line just after Upson had made it 2-1 with a well-taken
first-half header. Germany had raced into a two-goal lead through Miroslav
Klose and Lukas Podolski with the Three Lions' defence in disarray, but the
Hammers captain's strike led to plenty of half-time confidence of a
comeback. The second half saw Germany take full control but only after
Lampard had seen another effort crash against the German crossbar. Two
breakaway goals by Thomas Muller put paid to English hopes and mean there is
no West Ham representation left at the finals, with Green an unused
substitute, Jonathan Spector's United States eliminated by Ghana on Saturday
night and Valon Behrami's Switzerland failing in the group stage.
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Enyeama eyes Hammers switch
Nigeria keeper expects future to be decided this week
Last updated: 27th June 2010
SSN
West Ham target Vincent Enyeama expects his future to be decided this week.
The Nigerian keeper has been linked with a move to Upton Park, with new
Hammers boss Avram Grant a known admirer of the 28-year-old. Grant may be
eyeing a bid for the Hapoel Tel Aviv keeper given current West Ham No. 1
Robert Green is being lined up to replace Mark Schwarzer at Fulham if the
veteran moves to Arsenal. Enyeama, who put in impressive displays in his
country's failed Group B campaign, told the News of the World: "I expect to
hear something new within the next week. "It's natural. Everybody wants to
get ahead in life so, obviously, I want to move to a different place."
Enyeama is no stranger to transfer speculation, with Arsenal, Hull City and
Wigan Athletic linked to the shot-stopper last term, but no move
materialised.
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Piquionne set for Fener
Striker to shun English move
By Giscard Gourizro Last updated: 27th June 2010
SSN
Frederic Piquionne is set for a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, according
to reports. The Lyon striker spent last season on-loan at relegated
Portsmouth and despite Pompey's plight, Piquionne impressed with 11 goals. A
number of Premier League clubs, including West Ham, were understood to be
keen on brining him back across The Channel. But now it appears that
Fenerbahce are closing in on the 31-year-old French international. Speaking
to skysports.com, he said: "I am on holiday now and will announce my
destination during next week."
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Grant unsure about signing Argentine play-maker
Published 23:00 27/06/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham's bid for Juan Roman Riquelme has been put on ice as Avram Grant is
unsure on signing the Argentine. Hammers' owner David Sullivan has teed up a
lucrative free transfer to lure Riquelme, 32, on a £50,000-a-week deal. The
Argentine play-maker is out of contract after leaving Boca Juniors this
summer.
But new boss Grant has put a block on any potential deal for the moment and
wants to consider other options. Grant is concerned about the baggage
attached to signing a high-profile South American superstar.
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Joe Cole ready to decide club future
By Brian Lofrumento | 27th June 2010
PremiershipTalk.com
Following England's devastating World Cup Round of 16 defeat at the hands of
Germany, midfielder Joe Cole has revealed that he is now ready to decide his
club future. The West Ham youth product has seen his contract run out with
Premier League champions Chelsea, and after a less than inspiring season for
the Blues, Cole is ready to move on. "I want to get my future sorted as
quickly as possible. My season for Chelsea wasn't great for what I believe
were political reasons rather than footballing reasons. Carlo Ancelotti, I
love him, I've got big respect for him. I don't want to go on into it now.
It isn't the time," said Cole.
"It is not financial and it is nothing to do with Carlo. I love Carlo. I
think he is a top guy and a top manager. I loved my time at Chelsea, I love
the fans but it is a story for another day and I will tell it but now is not
the time. "I want to have a couple of weeks off, want to sort my future out
as soon as possible, go on holiday with my family. Next season I want to
have a fantastic season for England and whatever club I am at. "The next
contract I sign will be a footballing decision. I want to play in a more
central position. I want a manager who has faith in me and I'm talking about
club football here. It is a big decision for me and my family but I'm open
to anything at the moment. "I have purposely not spoken to anyone while I've
been here because that wouldn't be fair on England. My phone has been turned
off but now I want to sort it all out."
Cole has been heavily linked with potential moves to Manchester United,
Tottenham Hotspurs, and Arsenal, and few expect him to settle on a location
outside of England. Harry Redknapp, who is a known admirer of Cole, has been
insisting all summer that Cole's future has already been decided.
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Matthew Upson admits England were not good enough to beat Germany
West Ham star disappointed with display...
By Niall McGlone
27 Jun 2010 19:55:00
Goal.com
England defender Matthew Upson has admitted that Fabio Capello's men weren't
good enough in their embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Germany that saw them crash
out of World Cup 2010. England fell to their heaviest ever World Cup finals
defeat in Bloemfontein to end any hope of glory in South Africa. Germany
took the lead through Miroslav Klose when England's back four failed to deal
with a Manuel Neuer goal kick. The Schalke 04 'keeper pumped the ball long
to Klose who raced away from Upson and prodded home when faced one-on-one
with David James. Lukas Podolski doubled the Germans lead just after the
half hour mark when Thomas Mueller got in behind the England back line
before squaring to Podolski, who struck the ball past James. "I thought the
first goal, the ball took a kind of bizarre sail in the air and carried
further than we all anticipated," said Upson. "The second goal was really
good movement by them [Germany]. They passed some great one touch balls."
Upson himself gave England a glimmer of hope in a game that had looked
beyond them when he headed home a Gerrard cross to take the scores to 2-1.
Less than a minute later the scores should have been level when Lampard
lobbed Neuer and the ball bounced over the line off the crossbar, but
appeals for a goal were waved away by the officals. "I thought we came back
really well in the game, showed some real character, and should have gone in
at half time at 2-2," added Upson. "We came out in the second half and for
the first 15-20 minutes had control of the game and pressed to score. "It
was that eagerness to get the goal that led us to being a bit open."
Germany yet again exposed England's frailties at the back when
Schweinsteiger raced away on the counter attack before playing in Muller to
smash the ball past James. It was a similar story just minutes later when
Ozil capitalised on space left by the England defence and the highly-rated
midfielder teed up Muller for a simple second. "All I can say is that you
have 11 players go out there and give 100 per cent and we weren't good
enough to get the result," conceded Upson. "I can't explain the
performances, I don't think they have been as bad as people are talking
about but that's just my opinion." The defeat now means that England have
been knocked out by Germany in their last five meetings at major
tournaments.
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Time for Harry?
West Ham Till I Die
There's not a lot one can say after an England performance like that. Sure,
if the Lampard goal had been given, things might have turned out
differently, but like most of you, I have my doubts.
Defensively we were all over the place. The four defenders looked as if they
hadn't ever played together. Terry and Upson were abject from start to
finish. Glen Johnson played like he couldn't give a damn. Up front we showed
nothing. Rooney appeared as if he was only half there, while Defoe wasn't a
lot better. But even a half on form Defoe is better than Heskey. I mean what
kind of fool thinks bringing on a player like Heskey when you are 3-1 down
is actually going to turn a game round? What we eneded at that stage on
goals, so why bring on a player who rarely scores, rather than Peter Crouch
who has a record of scoring a goal every other game for England.
Steven Gerrard was woeful today, as was Milner. Barry looked busy and
Lampard had his best game of the tournament, but by his standards it was
still very average.
One of the main problems was the the middle of the pitch was too crowded. No
width at all – but if you don't play with natural wingers, what do you
expect?
What a very disappointing afernoon. In theory, man for man, you'd say we
should have beaten this German team. But they played as a team and we
didn't.
Yes, you have to blame the players for their abject performances, but if
they are playing in an unnatural system, and in unnatural positions, this is
what happens.
Virtually everyone could see Gerrard should have been playing behind Rooney
and not out on the left, but Capello was having none of it. Terry was
playing in the wrong side of central defence. Gerrard was playing in an
unnatural position. Go figure.
I don't normally believe in getting rid of managers at the first sign of
grapeshot, but in this case I cannot see how Capello can stay. And do you
know who I'd have succeed him? Harry Redknapp. No kidding. We need an
England manager who has a record of inspiring teams. Roy Hodgson would be OK
too..
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