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Cycling: British track women strike gold
Joanna Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead won two golds in the second round of the UCI World Track Cup

Premier League: Now West Brom's blunt rapier meets the Stoke cannons

West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City won promotion last season but that is where the similarities end. While Tony Mowbray hopes to produce a side capable of emulating Arsenal, Stoke have been upsetting rather than copying the country's leading clubs with their uncompromising style. Neither approach guarantees survival in the Premier League but before tomorrow's meeting at the Britannia Stadium a pattern has emerged where Albion are winning plenty of friends while Stoke pick up more points.

The fixture is not quite football's equivalent of Beauty and the Beast but the contrast between the two sides could hardly be starker. While Albion favour a patient passing game that encourages players to retain possession until an opening is created, Stoke have collected an impressive four wins from six matches at home due in no small part to their full-blooded and high-tempo approach to the game, which has bruised a few egos, as well as one or two Arsenal ankles, according to Arsène Wenger.

Mowbray is too respectful of Tony Pulis's success to criticise Stoke's methods but not everyone at The Hawthorns has been so diplomatic. "Stoke train with cannons rescued from local medieval ruins," said an anonymous match report in an Albion programme last season. "Footballs are loaded into them and fired into the distance for [Mamady] Sidibe to head and [Ricardo] Fuller to run after. It's a game plan that squeezes the life out of what used to be known as football."

Not surprisingly the comments irk Pulis, who strongly rejects accusations that Stoke are a one-dimensional long-ball side. "Tony wants to go one way, that's fine. But I think we play good football at this club," said the Stoke manager. "I don't think we just boot it from back to front. I think we're better than that. I think you're pigeon-holing us into something we're not. If you're saying we're going to play like Manchester United, then we're going to have to buy the players that Manchester United have got.

"What did Wimbledon do for 12 or so years? What you've got to do is play to your strengths and the players you can afford and the players you can work with and we've got a certain style of football," continued Pulis, who then drew a comparison that might surprise some. "I think we play football. We play it in a way where we play through teams. I don't think we play across, backwards and square; we actually play through teams. And if you go and watch Aston Villa, I think they do exactly the same."

Mowbray stated recently that those teams adopting a direct approach "might have one great season" but could not expect to enjoy long-term success. "You can never have consistency playing long-ball and knock downs," said the Albion manager. "You are hoping it drops for you, whereas if you are playing a precision game and playing off the back foot and creating angles and making clever runs, the opposition have got to work hard to stop that because it's not by accident that it happens."

He was careful to claim yesterday, however, that he was not applying his theory to Stoke, with the Albion manager suggesting that Rory Delap's ability to throw the ball such huge distances made Pulis's side a different proposition from others that have failed with the long-ball approach. "Watford didn't have enough of the ball and kept giving it back to good teams and got hurt," explained Mowbray. "Stoke, possibly with this extra weapon they've got [in Delap], are finding it easier because a throw-in in the attacking half of the pitch puts teams under pressure."

Albion have found it much more difficult to trouble opposition defences, with the 10 goals they have scored this season the lowest tally in the division, highlighting their shortcomings in the final third. Stoke have hardly been prolific in comparison and are only three points above Albion, who lie at the bottom of the table, yet their victories over Arsenal and Aston Villa highlight the problems their modus operandi can present and also suggest that they could be the more likely of the two to avoid relegation.

"Both managers have stuck to their principles and stuck to their styles of play," added the Albion manager. "Time will tell which team survives, prospers and goes on. But I understand you have got to win football matches. If you don't win football matches, you leave yourself open to what is right or wrong. The bigger picture with me is that I don't really care. I know what I do and that won't change. I'm trying to play good football, create good habits and improve players."

Different approaches

The uncompromising

Bolton Wanderers, 2001-02

Despite signing the classy Youri Djorkaeff, below, Bolton mine a rich vein by skying the ball towards Michael Ricketts.

Watford, 2006-07

Losing Ashley Young to Aston Villa mid-season didn't help, but 29 goals in 38 games suggests a team intent on destroying, not creating.

The entertainers

Reading, 2006-07

Steve Sidwell, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, Nicky Shorey, James Harper... Steve Coppell had plenty of reasons to encourage a passing game.

Ipswich Town, 2000-01

George Burley's Tractor Boys pass their way into Europe as he wins manager of the season and Titus Bramble is considered a future England star. Halcyon days indeed.

Premier League: Blow for United as Brown has surgery

Sir Alex Ferguson's injury problems have escalated after it emerged last night that Wes Brown could be facing a significant period on the sidelines while Dimitar Berbatov could miss the next three games.

Brown is understood to have undergone surgery on the ankle injury that has ruled him out for the past month, whereas Berbatov suffered a thigh strain in Bulgaria's friendly against Serbia on Wednesday, joining an injury list at Old Trafford that includes Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves.

Premier League: Newcastle's Joe Kinnear changes tune over talks with Mike Ashley
Joe Kinnear has accepted postponing his meeting with Mike Ashley regarding the sale of Newcastle

Sailing: Broken boom sets a sticky problem for Green Dragon
The Briton Ian Walker's Green Dragon boat was third in the Volvo Ocean Race despite suffering a broken boom

Football: William Gallas lets rip at Arsenal team-mates for lacking courage

The Arsenal captain, William Gallas, has launched an astonishing attack on his young team-mates, claiming they are "not brave enough in battle" and revealing he had been forced to step in to prevent players arguing during games. The France international also suggested one of his more experienced colleagues, who he refused to name, had proved a disruptive influence at the club on and off the pitch.

The outburst is particularly untimely with Arsenal, nine points off the top of the Premier League having lost their fourth game of the season against Aston Villa last Saturday, already rocked by confirmation that Theo Walcott will be absent for at least three months after the winger underwent surgery on his right shoulder yesterday. Gallas suggested he had grown tired of the drip-feed of criticism of his captaincy, initially sparked by his bizarre and petulant sit-down protest at Birmingham City in February, though his words will have done little for team harmony at the Emirates Stadium.

"We have to understand that, to be champions, you have to play big matches every weekend and fight," said Gallas. "We are coming up against teams who are not scared to play football against us, who are not scared to take us on at our place and this is becoming dangerous for Arsenal. We are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. We have to be warriors. There are teams who can do it well against us and we have to be able to face up to these attacks. That is how they [Arsenal's young players] will forge their character and how they will get experience. Even though they've played a certain number of matches, they're still young and still learning."

The 31-year-old, whose own form has been patchy not least against Villa, insisted he was speaking out because "there are things that can't be said and can't be tolerated". He revealed the team had fractured at half-time in the recent Premier League game with Tottenham Hotspur, with the score 1-1 at the time, though his most stinging criticism was levelled at an unnamed team-mate whose attitude had shocked him. "There was a problem at half-time [against Spurs]," he said. "The only thing that I could say at half-time was: 'Guys, we resolve these problems after the match, not at half-time.'

"When, as captain, some players come up to you and talk to you about a player ... complaining about him ... and then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us. There comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen. I'm trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I'm taking it all [the blame]. It's very frustrating, but I'm 31 and the player concerned is six years younger than me." The players who fall into that bracket at the club include Robin van Persie, the Dutch forward and something of a free spirit as an attacking force, as well as Emmanuel Eboué and Bacary Sagna. Yet Gallas' suggestion that the tete-a-tete had occurred during an attacking phase of play may be revealing.

Arsène Wenger was made aware of the comments yesterday and, although Gallas is unlikely to be stripped of the captaincy, the Arsenal manager has not been impressed with the outburst after a difficult few days. Wenger's decision to retain his compatriot as skipper, rather than pass the armband to Cesc Fàbregas, came as something of a surprise over the summer.

The centre-half's outburst appears born of frustration that Arsenal, well behind Chelsea and Liverpool in the league, may endure a fourth consecutive season without a trophy. "I have to win something this year," he said. "Arsenal has to win something. Another season without a trophy would be a kind of failure."

The loss of Walcott represents a blow. Wenger said he does not hold the Football Association responsible for the training injury sustained on Tuesday at the Olympic stadium, with the club considering whether or not to seek compensation, via the FA's insurers. Thankfully, the 19-year-old's career has not been threatened by this set-back.

"There is not concern about that," said the Arsenal manager. "Once the surgery is done and it is solid, there is no concern at all for the future of Theo Walcott. Not at all."

Football: How Fabio Capello lost his temper to set tone for England victory

Fabio Capello snapped this week. It was neither the bickering over commitment to club or country that prompted the Italian's patience to crack, nor even the loss of Theo Walcott to a dislocated shoulder, but rather what he perceived to be unacceptable sloppiness. "We'd started a small-sided game at training on Tuesday and, after about three minutes, he called it to a halt and told us it was all wrong," said David James. "He sees it, he says it and tells you no matter who you are. There's no ambiguity. That's what we've needed."

There is clarity now where only recently there was utter confusion. It is exactly a year since the national side disintegrated into shambles, Croatia ran riot at Wembley, the hosts imploding while a hapless Steve McClaren, cowering under his umbrella, stared impotently from the sidelines as his job prospects went the same way as England's chances of reaching Euro 2008. Back then, national team training sessions would invariably ring out to a chorus of players' nicknames with the management staff enjoying games of piggy-in-the-middle with the squad. Those days have now gone.

Capello's pre-match session on the turf at the Olympic stadium would ultimately be wrecked by the injury suffered by Walcott, but his furious reaction - arms gesticulating as players bowed their heads - at least provided an insight into his focus. The 62-year-old has the air of the headmaster about him. He had arrived at Soho Square with a reputation as a disciplinarian, the polar opposite to that of his predecessor. That has rubbed off on his new charges, with only seven bookings accrued in 10 games to date.

"He's not really a shouter," conceded James. "It's a steely glare, and you take it as read that you need to change it. His English isn't the best, but he says what he means and the beauty of it is that there's no room for ambiguity. There are a few new players in this squad but, fundamentally, we are the same group of players from the last two or three years. The same under-achieving squad that we were called before Mr Capello came in. But he's taken us and got us playing."

"Things have come on leaps and bounds since the Croatia game. On reflection, it might be a good thing that we were beaten then. We could have ended up not performing well in the tournament and employing a new manager who would have had no time to turn things round. Instead, in those few months he had as a run-in, he had the chance to look at the players he wanted. Looking back, an appearance in Euro 2008 might have been very detrimental in the long-term."

Qualification might have prolonged the McClaren era and he might always have struggled to cajole the best out of the current crop of England players. Certainly, the injection of discipline appears to have invigorated the national squad.

"We've evolved brilliantly and look a different side now to that of 12 months ago," said John Terry. "We got that kick up the backside on Tuesday and there have been a few bollockings over the year."

"He looks at you as if to say 'Just sort it out.' I remember after our second game when we were caught on the counter-attack a few times, he showed us a video, slowed it down and told us we weren't working hard enough for each other. After that we knew we'd have to put a lot more in, collectively and individually. The quality's there but, if we have the work rate to match, we'll have a good future."

Capello's re-integration of players has also helped. James was an outcast under McClaren, the team looking mainly to Paul Robinson and then, fatefully, Scott Carson in the qualification campaign for Euro2008. The Portsmouth goalkeeper has proved occasionally shaky since re-establishing himself as his country's No1 but, at 38, his experience offers reassurance.

"Mr Capello has picked the players who weren't fancied before, myself included," added James. "The previous regime said they wanted to test young 'keepers so I got bumped. Mr Capello's gone another way.

"Most people would have thought we'd get turned over by Germany but, in two days, the manager told us what he wanted in his normal, straight fashion and that has worked. None of us are surprised it worked out the way it actually did."

Bernie Ecclestone wife in line for big divorce payout
End of formula one tycoon's marriage could result in one of largest settlements in legal history

Obituary: George Edwards
Obituary: Fluent, speedy Wales and Cardiff footballer

Tennis: Argentina court fate in Davis Cup final

Andy Murray summed up the thoughts of the leading players when he was asked who would win the Davis Cup final between Argentina and Spain, which begins in the South American city of Mar del Plata today. "I'd say Argentina are the slight favourites because Rafael Nadal is not playing," the British No1 said. "Juan Martín del Potro will probably be a bit tired but the crowd are going to make a big difference."

Argentina have never won the Davis Cup but this year everything has gone right for them from the moment Murray withdrew from the opening round in Buenos Aires and Britain went down 4-1. Then came further home wins against Sweden and Russia, who beat them in the 2006 final, and now Spain. It has almost appeared preordained Argentina should become the 13th nation to win the competition.

The absence of Nadal, whose right knee is rumoured to be so bad he may miss the Australian Open for the third time in six years, is a great pity and denies the world No1 the opportunity to crown an outstanding year by adding this trophy to his French and Wimbledon titles, not to mention his Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

Spain remain a strong team, however, David Nalbandian and Del Potro should give the home team a 2-0 lead today against David Ferrer and Feliciano López respectively. Nalbandian is the best indoor court player in the world while the 20-year-old Del Potro's rise into the world's top 10 players has been remarkable this year. The 6ft 6in youngster moves extremely well for a tall man and won four successive tournaments before reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Spain also have the edge in the doubles tomorrow but, provided Nalbandian does not have one of his inexplicable off days in the opening match, this should be a weekend of unfettered joy for Argentina - and one in which, for once, Diego Maradona and football may be temporarily eclipsed.

Boxing: Shrewd Floyd Mayweather Sr has brought out the boxer in me, says Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton has said that Floyd Mayweather Sr's training has brought out his dormant boxing skills

Betting: Dan Roebuck: Beware bookies with attractive odds
Dan Roebuck: Layers expect to cash in on the Hatton-Malignaggi bout, so don't take all the tempting offers at face value

Boxing: Paulie Malignaggi has too weak a hand to cut lean Ricky Hatton a hard deal

Ricky Hatton is only two years older than Paulie Malignaggi, his opponent at the MGM Grand Arena tomorrow night, but they could hardly be further apart philosophically, mentally or physically.

Hatton is an all-action crowd-pleaser with a decent jaw and a body he abuses to the point of criminality; Malignaggi is a frail-looking Italian with little thirst for what he calls "extra-terrestrial" activities, and hands of chicken-like frailty.

It is plain Hatton's jaw could do as much damage to Malignaggi's fists, especially his right, as vice versa. And that makes for an intriguing contest. Hatton, looking lean as a wolf, has repeated until even his father Ray has rolled his eyeballs upwards to the Nevada sky that he has never been fitter in a dozen years as a professional.

It is an implausible assertion for any 30-year-old fighter to make. It is especially hard to accept from someone whose capacity for alcohol consumption between fights is legendary even by the standards of the estate in east Manchester where he is such a working-class hero.

Yet Hatton believes it. And that is what matters, because boxing is such a mental undertaking, in every sense of the expression. The bigger doubt attends his opponent's right hand - that was fractured in his last fight - which contains a pin but no grenade. "My hands are good," he insists, proffering a little mandible that would not look out of place on a doll. "People say it's going to be playing on your mind. The thing is it is a positive now, because I've gone through rehab on it so many times, I know the difference when it's actually healed and when it's not healed. And, believe me, this hand has healed.

"I started punching in August, light, but before the end of the month I was already punching hard. I'm a boxer by nature so, obviously, the jab is always key - but it is nice to know you've got a right hand behind it."

One cynic in this town of rumours who does not believe him is Hatton's new trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. "Heh!" was his response last night. "Let me tell you, you never get over a bad hand injury. Never. The kid can't punch and that's the reason why. I should know. I fought Sugar Ray Leonard with one good hand [in 1978]. I broke my right just a week and a half before the fight but didn't want to pull out. And I gave him a hell of a fight. I would have beaten him, I know it. But you can't do this sort of thing with bad hands. All my family, my two brothers [Jeff and Roger] and my son [Floyd Jr], they all had bad hands."

Floyd Sr lost that fight, stopped in the 10th after being knocked down twice in the eighth and never got a title shot, but it took Leonard, then a 13-fight prospect, quite a while to work it out. The difference tomorrow night is Hatton knows all about Malignaggi's duff mitts.

As safe bets go, Hatton winning is as good as most you will get in Las Vegas this weekend. Malignaggi, who turns 28 on Sunday, has stopped only five of 26 opponents, three of them nonentities in his first three fights, the last of them a serial loser called Kevin Watts five years and 13 contests ago. The stark fact is this: Malignaggi cannot hurt good fighters and Hatton at 30 is - as he will tell you - still a good fighter.

Rugby Union: Danny Cipriani must draw strength from adversity and have belief, says Dan Carter

Daniel Carter shares more than his initials with England's Danny Cipriani. The pair are regarded as the leading players of their generation and enjoy a celebrity status in their respective countries but, whereas Carter has 56 New Zealand caps, 841 Test points and a reputation as not only the leading fly-half in the world but one of the best the game has seen, Cipriani started his international career this year and was roundly criticised for his display against Australia last weekend.

Carter made his debut in 2003 and, as an inside-centre, was part of a New Zealand squad that failed to win the World Cup that year and returned home to a barrage of invective. He is set to come face to face with Cipriani for the first time next week when the All Blacks face England at Twickenham and he believes the Wasps outside-half has what it takes to succeed in the Test arena.

"It is a huge step up to international rugby, no matter what level you have been playing," said the 26-year old Carter. "It is totally different from the game you emerge from as a young player and people have to be patient. Danny Cipriani has to remember that he was picked by England for a reason and he has to stick to what he has been doing. He is a player of quality who has a variety of skills and he is capable of making the step up.

"At his age it is all about learning. You have to draw strength from adversity, and criticism, far from getting you down, has to motivate you even more and so make you a better player. I am sure he will be doing that."

Carter tomorrow comes up against the side he made his international debut against five years ago, Wales. Just as he rates Cipriani, so he has been following the career of the Wales fly-half James Hook, who will be on the bench at the Millennium Stadium provided he does not suffer a reaction to a leg injury after training last night.

"Wales have two excellent outside-halves in Hook and Stephen Jones," said Carter. "Jones is an astute controller of a game and I have a huge respect for him having come up against him on a number of occasions. Hook is a more attacking player and I first saw him a couple of years ago when he came off the bench against us and made an immediate impact. He has a lot of talent.

"So have Wales as a team. They were the form side in the Six Nations and I thought they were unlucky to lose to South Africa a couple of weeks ago: that defeat would have disheartened them because they had opportunities to win the game. We are wary of their talent and experience: it is probably going to be our toughest game of the tour and we are going to have to be at our best to win.

"They have grown since I first faced them five years ago and I would say that they are now a great side. Everyone loves going out there and beating the All Blacks, so they will be throwing everything into this game to get the victory and we are totally focused on what we need to do."

Carter will have a few days off after the match at Twickenham before flying to France and joining up with Perpignan. He has signed a six-month contract with the French side, worth more than £25,000 a match, after being granted a sabbatical by the New Zealand Rugby Union. He could make his debut against Leicester in the Heineken Cup, as long as Perpignan have not carried out their threat to pull out of the competition in protest at an 18-week ban handed out to their hooker Marius Tincu after he was found guilty of gouging against the Ospreys.

"I am really excited about the move," he said. "I hope we remain in the Heineken Cup but that is something outside my control. It is a tournament I dearly want to play in and after Leicester we have the Ospreys. It will be a change of culture as well as rugby for me and I have had a few French lessons.

"I loved being in Munster earlier this week. The atmosphere was totally different from anything I had experienced before and the crowd played a big part. It made for a different tour because we normally follow one international with another and it was probably a foretaste of what Perpignan will be like. It is a different challenge for me but not one which I find daunting."

Carter, who has lost only eight times in a New Zealand shirt, was the International Rugby Board's player of the year in 2005. He is one of the five nominees for this year's award, along with the Wales wing Shane Williams. "Shane is a lethal player who can score tries from anywhere and I am not fond of coming up against him one on one because his fancy footwork can make you look silly," said Carter. "Give him time, space and a bit of room to move and he will make the most of it. We will have to shut him down." Wales will have to do the same to Carter.

Powers at No10

Dan Carter is the world's top fly-half but there are other pretenders.

Danny Cipriani, England

His broken ankle has healed but he is yet to recapture his mesmerising form of last season. The Wasp has the key asset of pace.

James Hook, Wales

Wales will miss a wonderfully assured performer tomorrow but a Lions Test candidate next year.

François Trinh-Duc, France

Just turned 22, he was hardly heard of when he made his debut for France against Scotland this year. An instinctive and brilliant stand-off.

Football: Stewart Downing on the up after impressing in Berlin

Stewart Downing believes he will have more opportunity to build on his most threatening performance to date as an England player and become the national side's regular left-winger under Fabio Capello having grown frustrated with the bit-part role afforded him by previous managers at this level.

The Middlesbrough midfielder was outstanding at the Olympic Stadium, stinging the hands of both goalkeepers used by the Germans and setting up the goals scored by Matthew Upson and John Terry en route to the visitors' victory. It was the 24-year-old's 21st cap and, while that suggests he features with some regularity, he had drifted in and out of the set-up under Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren since making his debut against Holland three years ago.

"I haven't always been given the chance at international level, but Fabio has given me more of an opportunity," said Downing. "Before it was more of a settled team. Fabio came in and everyone's had a fresh start. He asks players to play with confidence and he's certainly given me that. That was probably my best performance and I want to carry that on and play in the qualifiers as well.

"If you do well under Fabio, you have the confidence he will stick with you. That's how I feel. It's not all about names or whatever, it's about performances. If you are not playing well for your club, then you won't be picked. It's not only about what happened in Berlin, we have to do it every week with our clubs. There's always someone there to take your place, so you have to be on your toes every week.

"But I don't think the left side is nailed down by anybody. Joe Cole was obviously missing [injured], but he's a quality player and Ashley Young has come in and done well. There's Steven Gerrard who has played on the left as well, but I'm hoping Fabio keeps giving me a chance and that I can prove I'm worth the place on the left. I'm sure the other lads think that as well."

The game in Berlin was Downing's most consistent yet as a full international, his delivery contrasting sharply with that of Shaun Wright-Phillips on the opposite flank. Indeed, the Middlesbrough winger did much to restore his reputation at this level after suffering a dismal evening against Andorra in September's qualifying tie in Barcelona. "Andorra stuck everybody behind the ball and it didn't really suit me," he added. "But the Germany game opened up and I thought we looked good on the break.

"There is a lot of confidence in the team and I think it's showing at the moment. All the players who came in thought: 'This is a chance to show what we can do.' A chance to stake a claim and, hopefully, give the manager a few problems. That was my best performance for England so far, but I want to keep going. I don't just want to be in the squad, I want to play."

In the end, the numerous drop-outs from Capello's first-choice side served to indicate that the Italian has unearthed a strong squad rather than merely a competent team. "It showed we have strength in depth, which is vital," said Michael Carrick, who was excellent on his first appearance since August 2007. "We are not always going to have everyone available and everyone is aware of that. Others will come in and do a job and, against Germany, everyone wanted to prove that this was the level they are at. As a team we were brilliant and as individuals I thought we were brilliant. It's very exciting."

Jerm is at docs


England striker Jermain Defoe will go for medical tests after being forced off at half-time in Wednesday night's victory over Germany.

Howler won't haunt Carson


Scott Carson insists he will not allow his latest England blunder to rock his confidence.

No Tyne to talk for JK


Joe Kinnear has been forced to postpone talks with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley - and claims: "The goalposts have moved."

Ricky Fatton's gone, but he'll be back soon...


Ricky Hatton's refusal to call time on his boozing has brought a no-nonsense warning from his new trainer.

It's a big job but I love the challenge


It's a tougher job than he thought it would be, but this has been a Fab year for English football.

Gunners bust-ups tearing us apart


Skipper William Gallas says Arsenal are being torn apart by behind-the-scenes bust-ups. The Frenchman has disclosed how:

Moyes in more aggro with FA


Everton boss David Moyes is back in trouble with the FA - after branding them "a law unto themselves".

Keano's set for FA fight


Sunderland boss Roy Keane is gearing up for another fight with the FA.

Skip Kev gets ray of light


England fell foul of the rules after putting up a far better show in their third one-dayer against India.

Borth: I'll be top cap


Steve Borthwick insists he is the right man to captain England.

Fab takes £1m hit in pay packet
FABIO CAPELLO has lost the equivalent of £1m due to the fall in the value of sterling

London calling for Arshavin
ANDREI ARSHAVIN is a January transfer window target for Spurs and Arsenal

You're a bunch of bottlers
WILLIAM GALLAS has accused his Arsenal pals of not being brave enough for title fight

If you booze, you lose
RICKY HATTON’S dreams of revenge will disappear unless he gives up boozing

Capello's class of 2008
CHIEF football writer Shaun Custis delivers his end-of-term report on Fabio’s England

Scholes is a derby tip
PAUL SCHOLES is back in full training and in line for a dramatic derby return

Scott: I'm not Plank Carson
SCOTT CARSON insists he does not deserve to be branded a cock-up keeper

James is a fan of rag time
ENGLAND stars reveal Fabio Capello’s secret for success - the three-minute warning

Mowbray hails JT confession
TONY MOWBRAY saluted John Terry after he took the blame for Germany joke goal

Wenger targets no-shows
ARSENE WENGER wants FIFA to probe Premier League clubs who withdrew stars

Haye v Barrett in pictures
SLIDESHOW: CHECK out all the best snaps from David Haye's win over Monte Barrett

Top 10 future England stars
WHICH youngsters will follow in the footsteps of Walcott and Rooney to play for England?

Jose's targeting the Tinkerman
JOSE MOURINHO finally pits his wits against rival Claudio Ranieri on Saturday

Martins: Don't let go of Joe
OBAFEMI MARTINS says Joe Kinnear deserves to be given Newcastle job full-time

Henry rules out a return
THIERRY HENRY has admitted he does not expect to return to the Premier League

Football: William Gallas slams Arsenal team-mates as he reveals desperation for trophies
The Arsenal skipper also singled out an un-named team-mate for destroying dressing room morale

Football: Arsene Wenger in shock reaction to Theo Walcott injury
Arsenal boss takes news Theo might be out for months surprisingly well!

Football: FA allow Manchester City to sign replacement for Joe Hart
Mark Hughes is down to the bare bones, keeper-wise

Football: Germany v England: Pictures from last night's Berlin clash
All the action from Berlin's Olympic Stadium as John Terry makes it a night to remember for England.

Football: Germany 1-2 England: John Terry shows England's missing stars how it's done
What a difference a year makes, what a change a proper manager can bring.

Derek McGovern: New boss QPR manager Paulo Sousa will have to do as Flavio says so
Iain Dowie's record as QPR manager was so-so but so-so just isn't good enough when mega-rich Flavio Briatore is chairman.

Derek McGovern: Dancing pig John Sergeant trotters off but will he waltz back?
So Strictly Come Dancing heartthrob John Sergeant has finally fallen on his sword. That's what you get for trying tricky dance manoeuvres at his age.

Derek McGovern: New boss QPR manager Paulo Sousa will have to do as Flavio says so
Iain Dowie's record as QPR manager was so-so but so-so just isn't good enough when mega-rich Flavio Briatore is chairman.

Derek McGovern: Dancing pig John Sergeant trotters off but will he waltz back?
So Strictly Come Dancing heartthrob John Sergeant has finally fallen on his sword. That's what you get for trying tricky dance manoeuvres at his age.

Rugby: Shane Williams out to humble the All Blacks
Shane Williams aims to run rings round the All Blacks - and clinch the World Player of the Year title in style.

Rugby: Danny Cipriani: I could never be like Jonny Wilkinson
The England fly-half is happy to be his own man as he searches for consistency.

Football: England boss Fabio Capello hails his 'perfect' side
A famous victory against England's arch footballing enemies ends a brilliant year for Capello.

Football: John Terry is the hero of Berlin, writes Oliver Holt
The England skipper's perfomance is a symbol of the changing mood under Fabio Capello.

The Big Match: Germany 1 England 2: Full time match report
Captain John Terry atoned for a costly error to earn England 's makeshift team a deserved victory against Germany in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

The Big Match: England 1 Germany 0: Half time match report
Matthew Upson scored his first goal for England to give Fabio Capello's under-strength side the lead against Germany in Berlin.

Football: England training pictures - Fabio Capello puts his team through their paces
England ran out at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin last night ahead of their international friendly against Germany.

Football: Win a weekend away to see Chelsea take on Arsenal
As Chelsea FC’s Official Travel Partner, Thomas Cook Sport, one of the UK’s leading sports travel operators, is giving you the chance to win an Official Chelsea FC Match Break.

Football: Steven Gerrard says Liverpool musn't get carried away with title bid
The Liverpool captain admits the team's fine start to the campaign has raised hopes of a first league championship since 1990.

Football: Diego Maradona: England should never have won the World Cup
Diego Maradona last night infuriated England fans again by claiming: "You should never have won the World Cup."

Rugby Union: Munster almost defeat All Blacks
Munster came within four minutes of repeating their 1978 victory over New Zealand last night.

Football: Why England v Germany is still the most important football fixture
It's the history of it. It's the chance to write a new chapter in a compelling story, or at least, in the case of a match like tonight's, add a few notes in the margin.

Football: Yossi Benayoun tells Liverpool: Play me or I leave
The £6million signing has warned he will quit Liverpool unless he gets more games.

Oliver Holt: Why England v Germany is still the most important football fixture
It's the history of it. It's the chance to write a new chapter in a compelling story, or at least, in the case of a match like tonight's, add a few notes in the margin.

Rugby: Paul Sackey ready to take on South Africa after World Cup heartbreak
Paul Sackey will be gunning for South Africa on Saturday but insists that nothing England do at Twickenham can make up for his World Cup final heartbreak.

Football: Fabio Capello tells his players to prove themselves in Berlin
My wannabes must grab this chance like Theo Walcott, says England boss.

William Gallas may lose Arsenal captaincy
Arsène Wenger is facing mounting pressure to strip William Gallas of the Arsenal captaincy after the France defender launched a verbal attack on his team-mates yesterday.

England call on Tim Payne to combat Springboks
Front-row play, Graham Rowntree said yesterday, is a smart man’s game, a powerful man’s game. The scrum coach will hope, therefore, that Tim Payne lives up to that description after England, reluctantly, acknowledged that the London Wasps loose-head prop will start against South Africa at Twickenham tomorrow because of the withdrawal of Andrew Sheridan.

Hairdryer treatment replaces Steve McClaren's hot air
Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

England left in the dark by umpires' ruling
As soon as officials announced a 9.45am start with as many as 49 overs a side, anyone who had been in Kanpur during the previous two afternoons could have predicted an unsatisfactory end to this contest. Kevin Pietersen was among the pessimists and the England captain was left to reflect on a “very, very bitter pill to take” as his side went 3-0 down in the seven-match series.

Ricky Hatton told he must give up drinking
Almost as famous as Ricky Hatton's exploits in the ring are stories of his excesses outside it. The Manchester boxer likes his food and has never been shy of a drink or four; part of the excitement of fight night for him is the thought of the party afterwards. But those days have to come to an end, according to Floyd Mayweather Sr, his new trainer, who has seen fit to share a few home truths with Hatton.

Juande Ramos hopes for return to English game
Juande Ramos signed the payoff yesterday that frees him of his brief relationship with Tottenham Hotspur, but the former head coach’s emotional ties to White Hart Lane and to English football remain so strong that he would love to return to management in the Barclays Premier League.

Arsène Wenger urges crackdown on truancy
Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

Manager wants more than respectability
Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

Tony Mowbray backs Scott Carson to recover
Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

'Level playing field' may redraw the landscape
In European Union politics, much of the discourse centres on where member states end and Brussels begins. Football is no different, to judge from the reaction to the plan laid out by Nicolas Sarkozy and the French presidency of the EU, particularly its proposed super-national body, modelled on La Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG).

Juande Ramos parts with Tottenham Hotspur but hopes for a return to English football
Juande Ramos's adventure in English football officially came to an end yesterday as the Spaniard signed the payoff which frees him from his ties to Tottenham Hotspur.

Portsmouth rejected chance to sign Geovanni
Tony Adams says club could have signed Hull's Brazilian forward Geovanni on a free transfer 18 months ago.

Winning against Canada is all that matters to Scotland flanker John Barclay
Flanker is sick and tired of people patting him on the back for playing well every time Scotland lose.

England captain John Terry proved in Berlin that he is a positive force on and off the pitch
'Honest John' showed on and off the pitch that England captaincy sits well on his shoulders.

England manager Fabio Capello uses 'the look' to pep up his players
England captain has given an insight into how his manager instils discipline in his improving squad.

Jonny Wilkinson no longer keen on England spot as Danny Cipriani proves ripe for job
Injuryplagued World Cup winner says he'll happily play at lower level and let others work for England spot.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refuses to blame FA for Theo Walcott's injury
Arsenal manager has refused to blame the FA for leaving him without a fit Theo Walcott for up to three month