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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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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...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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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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Engand defeat highlights problems at both ends for McLaren

England 1 - Germany 2

After an encouraging start England faded to defeat to an understrength Germany, leaving the the hosts still looking for there first victory at the new Wembley.

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In a bizarre mix of football and politics, Diego Maradona admitted cheating to beat England in the 1986 World Cup.

In an interview with Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, he says:

“It was too high for me and I stuck out my fist.

However, rather than cheating, it seems it was a statement in the fight against imperialism.

From: Maradona and Chávez laugh over ‘hand of god’ goal on chat show

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In a BBC interview, Fifa vice-president has declared his dislike of England and how he will fight to derail England’s World Cup 2018 bid.

“There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that.

“It will be Italy, Spain, or even France who will get the World Cup if it goes to Europe.”

With no disrespect to Italy, Spain or France, but all three of those countries have hosted the World Cup since England, and must be less deserving than other European nations to hold the championships.

Warner goes on to claim that the Concacef should host the tournament, despite one his arguments against England being:

“England invented the sport but has never had made any impact on world football.”

From: BBC

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