The Fan

From: BBC - Capello’s optimism masks reality on England’s lacklustre performance against France:

As one Italian observer remarked, perhaps cruelly: “England do not just need an Italian coach - they need an Italian team.”

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Lincoln City’s climb away from the foot of League Two has brought an unusual reward. Manager Peter Jackson asked for the office to be redecorated when he joined the club last year. Chairman Steff Wright suggested an incentive scheme, providing carpet tiles for every point the Imps won.

“We’ve gradually been putting the tiles down”, said Wright, “and over the past couple months the colour of the floor has changed from worn-out green to bright blue tiles.”

From: BBC

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From: The Guardian - Sid Lowe finds the Spanish media desperate to put some kind of gloss on the unthinkable - that their rivals across the Med play better football

Over here, people think Italian football is dirty, cynical, talentless and boring. Few Italians have succeeded in Spain because they are rubbish, they say, while few Spaniards have succeeded in Italy because the football is rubbish - and full of cheats.

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The Magic of the Cup

Minnows prove that game is not all about money

Conference South side Havant and Waterlooville show the FA Cup is still alive

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...this week, 16 Scotsmen played in the Champions League. Only 14 Englishmen could say the same. And three of those - Peter Crouch, Owen Hargreaves and Theo Walcott - were substitutes.

From: Guardian Unlimited: Sport blog: The killer stat that demands a response

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The Times are reporting that Spurs’ UEFA cup game tonight (Thursday) is likely to be Martin Jol’s last in charge:

Martin Jol’s reign as Tottenham Hotspur manager looked to have ended last night after he accepted a £4 million compensation package to leave the club. An announcement is expected this morning. Juande Ramos, the Seville coach, has accepted the job but may not be in place until the start of next season.

The Times Online

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England cruise to second win

England 3 - Russia 0

England continued against Russia where they left off against Israel, cruising to another 3-nil victory.

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England prosper without big names

England 3 - Israel 0

Despite injuries to star name players England cruised past a standoff-ish Israel. 

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In support of Paul Robinson

After a number of blunders Paul Robinson’s England place is rightly under threat.

Rightly, because no player should be guaranteed the position in the team. But, the quality of his potential replacements still cause concern. 

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Jermain who?

Has everyone forgotten about Defoe?

With England 2-1 down to Germany at Wembley, McLaren chose to substitute both strikers, Smith and Owen. Without Rooney, Bent and Johnson through injuries, who did he turn to? Not Jermain Defoe.

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