Viet Nam News Football ABUJA — Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to fellow World Cup qualifiers Serbia in London this week served as a ’reality check’ to inflated World Cup hopes, according to team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye. Wins in recent friendlies over top-10 teams Argentina and Poland had boosted hopes of Nigeria’s 180 million people that this young side are capable of going beyond the country’s best performance of a last-16 finish in 1994, 1998 and 2014. "We hope to learn from this and correct our mistakes because this team have the ingredients of a great team and what is crucial now is how they react after this setback," Ibitoye said. "The loss to Serbia was a reality check." Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has in the past talked up the team’s potential to make history by becoming the first African side to win the World Cup this year. But the defeat by Serbia has brought the Super Eagles back down to earth with less than … [Read more...] about Serbia defeat punctures Nigeria World Cup hype
England 2003 world cup squad
Brown, Robinson hand Capello double quit snub
Just hours after Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson said he was quitting, Brown, who was left out of the squad to face Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday, also called time on his international career. "After a lot of thought and with a very heavy heart, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football," said Brown in a statement. "At the age of 30 I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career." Brown won 23 caps in an international career which began against Hungary in 1999. He was part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2002 World Cup squad in Japan and South Korea, but did not play a game. The United defender started in Capello's first two games in charge against Switzerland and France, but injury took hold once more and he failed to make Capello's squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa. Robinson, the 30-year-old former Leeds and Tottenham 'keeper, had been named in the … [Read more...] about Brown, Robinson hand Capello double quit snub
Zara ties the knot in Britain’s second royal wedding
EDINBURGH, July 30, 2011 (AFP) - The second British royal wedding of the year takes place on Saturday, as Queen Elizabeth II's eldest granddaughter Zara Phillips and England rugby star Mike Tindall tie the knot in Edinburgh. But the marriage of the two world-beating sports stars has little in common with that of Phillips' cousin Prince William and the former Kate Middleton three months ago, when one million people lined the streets of London to watch. All the senior royals, including William and Catherine, are expected to attend Saturday's wedding at Canongate Kirk, but it holds only about 400 guests -- far from the 1,900 who attended the April 29 marriage at Westminster Abbey. The reception will be held at the nearby Palace of Holyroodhouse, the queen's official residence in Scotland, although the party started early with a drinks reception on Friday night on the Royal Yacht Britannia. Phillips, 30, is the younger child of the queen's only daughter Princess Anne and 13th in line to … [Read more...] about Zara ties the knot in Britain’s second royal wedding
Former Manchester United player wants to play at V-League
VietNamNet Bridge - Jose Kleberson Pereira, a member of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup 2002 and a player of Manchester United in 2003-2005, wants to play for Vietnam's V-League. Some football agencies in Vietnam have received detailed information about Kleberson and his requirements for salary, accommodations, etc. in Vietnam. Accordingly, Kleberson is willing to play for any V-League team if the club pays him $2 million of transfer fees for two seasons, a monthly salary of $30,000, allocate a villa, a car and covers accommodation expenses for his family. … [Read more...] about Former Manchester United player wants to play at V-League
Rooney could be out for two months after horror wound leaves surgeons stunned
The horrific injury suffered by Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford on Saturday was so bad it shocked surgeons and required dozens of stitches to repair the Manchester United striker's thigh muscle. Rooney faces a fitness battle after undergoing complex surgery on the deep gash he suffered in United's 3-2 win over Fulham in the Barclays Premier League. … [Read more...] about Rooney could be out for two months after horror wound leaves surgeons stunned