Football gambling : Khalid Samad persoal stand Jais

Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) asked to state its stand on the government's decision approving gambling licenses football during World Cup soccer tournament in 2010 to be held early next month.

MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad (pictured) said Jais should express its views on the matter if they are independent.

"Maya and the directors have expressed their views on the issue of football gambling license to prove that they do not have any interest and political allegiance," Khalid said in a press conference at his office here.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung had earlier said the Finance Ministry has given licenses to a local company to run the football betting activities. However, many parties wanted the government to withdraw the approval of the feared invite negative symptoms in the community.

Lippi seared still need 'old horse'

However, Italian coach will defense squad for World Cup selection

Words of praise has accompanied the Italian coach, Marcello Lippi Italy coach following the success of the 2006 World Cup stature, seems to not be heard when the critics began to dispute the tendency to rely on players who have aged to the 2010 World Cup campaign . Lippi praised as national heroes after overcoming the probability with the squad 'Azzurri' won the title four years ago in Germany.

But after his resignation and then return to fill the post in 2008, the eroded his popularity.

World Cup winners such as Fabio Cannavaro and Mauro Camoranesi is still in the planning, despite the loss of performance with each other club has over 30 years old when he was not much to give opportunities to younger players, even then only for the tournament friendly match.

But 62-year-old coach has admitted making mistakes when the step down in 2006, is not pleased with the selection.

"People say our performance lame, but we will just wait and see," Lippi said recently.

Lippi's future after World Cup attention and he does not seem consistent with the Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete.

President wanted to know before the World Cup on who will be the coach after that, but Lippi would prefer to wait to see the achievements of teams and the feeling after the World Cup.

Recent discussions suggest Abete and dominate the media speculated that Lippi will announce before the World Cup on June 11 to July 11 where he will resign as soon as the Italian campaign ended.

Confusion about its future, the campaign unbeaten and tasteless despite uncertainty about the choice of the main team, meaning he is no longer popular among supporters as before.

However, all that could change if a strong desire and management expertise to help the players and technical advantages of the Italian stand.

Italy is placed in Group F along with Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.

In another development, Italian World Cup squad scorned by their own supporters here last Sunday after they were disappointed when the players refuse to stop and sign autograf for them.

Some supporters shouted "shame" when the children were boarding buses for Lippi to pre-training camp at the World Cup resort Sestieres.

Italy will make preparations for the World Cup in South Africa this June in high-altitude training camp in the mountains Italy until June 5 of this.

They are against Mexico in a friendly match in Brussels on June 3 and against Switzerland in Geneva two days later.

Four-time world champion is scheduled to arrive in South Africa on June 9, before the opening Group F match against Paraguay in Cape Town on 14 June

After that they will be against New Zealand in Nelspruit on 20 June before the final group match against Slovakia in Johannesburg on 24 June

Capello happy England beat Mexico

Fabio Capello glad to see the fruits of the child after the success of beating Mexico 3-1 in a friendly game before the World Cup tournament starts.

Capello is starting to be seen smiling with success in the first test match of the two games before leaving for South Africa. He praised the performances of Steven Gerrard shows the quality of play in many positions with Capello find the best formation for England.

"Gerrard can play in the middle with Frank Lampard, but we have to wait and see which players will be fit. I change it after half time and put Gerrard in the middle where he played very well. He is a good player to play all positions and in the middle, "said Capello.

"It is very important for us to know where our level now, physically and mentally after a long season. We have the time to revive the spirit of the team and the quality we have."

"When we play counter-attack, we are very dangerous. But I do not want to just play the same pattern. I want more."

Torres wary of England

Spain may be many options for the World Cup this year. But for Fernando Torres, "Tim Matador 'Britain should be cautious.

Not without reason that if Torres said, because 26 year-old striker has been close enough to Great Britain. Torres had three years of flying on the Premier League with Liverpool.

One reason is the presence of UK cautious Torres Steven Gerrard. It mentions, Gerrard is the type player who can lead the team out of the pressure and win the race.

"Maybe there are five players in the World Cup later that you can win big with their own efforts. He (Gerrard) at the same level with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, such quality, "said Torres as Italian Football League.

Apart from Gerrard, Torres mentioned other players who can lift Britain is Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United striker is thriving middle of the season. Rooney, who scored 34 goals in all appearance this year.

"Wayne Rooney and Stevie would come good in tournament. If so, then the UK are eligible to be feared, "he told reporters.

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Brown clings to World Cup hope

Injured midfielder Tim Brown, still hoping to make New Zealand's 2010 FIFA World Cup™ line-up, aims to be back in the gym on Monday, four days after having three screws inserted into an injured shoulder.

He said a decision on whether he would go to South Africa would be made on 10 June after a week of rehabilitation and fitness work. Brown, the All Whites vice-captain, fractured a bone after falling heavily in his side's 2-1 loss in last Monday's friendly against Australia.

The 29-year-old initially feared his FIFA World Cup was over but following surgery on Thursday he said he hoped he would be able to rejoin the team, although he would not go if he was not 100 per cent fit.

Brown said Saturday he would leave hospital over the weekend and would be in the gym Monday to work on his fitness. "I believe if I am fit I can contribute and I can help them. I will go over there if I believe I can do that. If not I won't just because I don't think it's fair."

Brown said when he first saw an X-ray of his injured shoulder he was devastated. "I thought my World Cup gone and I had tears in my eyes. I thought it was all over."

But, he said the surgeon told him "he had aced it" and the three screws had anchored the bone in place. He was lucky the ligaments and muscles were intact.

While Brown recovers at home, the New Zealand team has gone to Austria for altitude training and to play two further friendlies before their opening FIFA World Cup pool match in against Slovakia in Rustenburg on 15 June.

USA's Donovan in confident mood

USA forward Landon Donovan has sounded a warning to 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ group C opponents England ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Turkey.

The States have struggled in their build-up to the tournament, losing to Honduras, Netherlands and the Czech Republic this year, and face a team in form as Turkey beat both the Czechs and Northern Ireland in the last week. But Donovan remains upbeat about his side's prospects and cited as evidence last year's FIFA Confederations Cup, when they reached the final and led Brazil 2-0 en route to an eventual 3-2 defeat.

The LA Galaxy man, who impressed while on loan in the English Premier League at Everton this year, told the Sun: "We have a lot of European-based players and watch the Premier League all the time on TV, so there will be no surprises from the England team. And, after our experience in the Confederations Cup last year, we are confident we can play all the big teams and not only compete with them but get the better of them, too - starting with England."

Two pairs of South Africa-bound teams face off in a double-header at the Wortherseestadion in Klagenfurt, Austria, with Slovakia's clash with Cameroon followed by New Zealand taking on Serbia. The Kiwis will be without striker Chris Killen, who is getting married but will be back with the squad for their next friendly against Slovenia, and vice-captain Tim Brown, although the prognosis on the latter's fractured shoulder is positive.

After our experience in the Confederations Cup last year, we are confident we can play all the big teams and not only compete with them but get the better of them, too - starting with England.

USA's Landon Donovan

"It is still too early to comment on his chances of being available for the World Cup at this stage," said Brown's surgeon Stu Walsh. "However, Tim is a strong and fit athlete who is very motivated and looks after himself well, which will benefit his recovery."

Serbia's Dejan Stankovic is raring to get back into action despite only finishing his domestic season when he appeared as a substitute for Inter Milan in last Saturday's UEFA Champions League final. "I don't need any holidays. My body doesn't feel tired," the 31-year-old told Bilic Sport. "I can't wait to reunite with my national team-mates and start training alongside them. All I want to do is play."

Slovakia are preparing for their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals and full-back Peter Pekarik admitted: "For a small nation like us, qualifying was a sensational achievement." Not content to rest on his laurels, though, the Wolfsburg player told FIFA.com: "We've got nothing to lose in South Africa and there's no pressure on our shoulders. Why can't we go there and cause a bit of stir?"

Korea DPR continue their build-up against DR Congo, while the day's other internationals see Azerbaijan host Macedonia, Ukraine take on Romania and the United Arab Emirates face Moldova. Four Scandinavian sides are also in action, with Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland tackling Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Poland and Andorra respectively.

Germany face Hungary test

Germany are preparing for life without captain Michael Ballack when they face Hungary in Budapest on Saturday in their penultimate warm-up match.

With Ballack out with an ankle injury, Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm will take over the captain's armband to captain the side in South Africa, but striker Miroslav Klose will lead Germany in Budapest.

The Bayern quartet of Lahm, Germany's vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt and midfielder Thomas Muller are being rested by Joachim Low for the Hungary game as the coach looks at different options.

Coached by former Dutch midfielder Erwin Koeman, the Hungarians are expected to give the Germans the same kind of test at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium as Group D opponents Serbia in South Africa.

With Ballack out and Klose leading the side, Loew has named Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer between the posts in Budapest in place of injured first-choice Rene Adler.

Bremen's Tim Wiese will be on the bench with Bayern's 35-year-old goalkeeper Butt part of the quartet kept back at the north Italian training camp to work on their fitness.

Neuer will be Germany's first-choice goalkeeper in South Africa and Low is looking forward to assessing the form of several squad members in a game environment including Hamburg's Marcell Jansen after an ankle injury.

"We want to see some things we have been working on in training implemented in the Hungary game," said Low. "We will take this game very seriously.

"I also have the opportunity again to look at one or two things. For example, I can see how Marcell copes again, whether he is able to play to his best again and prove his match fitness."

While Germany lost both midfielders Ballack and Christian Traesch with ankle injuries in recent weeks, Hungary have a few injury concerns of their own.

"The conditions for preparation could have been better," said Koeman. "There have been a few injuries and this match is a big challenge for us, but it is essential to play the big teams like Germany or the Netherlands to get us ready for our EURO 2012 campaign."

Cahill: Essien injury won't help us

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill does not think Australia's FIFA World Cup™ chances have improved because of Michael Essien's absence through injury.

The Ghana and Chelsea star was ruled out on Thursday when he failed a fitness test on a knee injury he picked up while training during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Angola last January.

Australia will face the African side on 19 June in Rustenburg but Cahill, who scored twice as a substitute against Japan at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, believes they will still represent a tough challenge.

"It means nothing - we just have to work hard and concentrate on us," he said. "Essien is a big player and it is sad for him and his family not to be involved in such a big competition, but we just have to think about our team."

Cahill scored ten goals this season for his club as they recovered from a slow start to finish eighth and just miss out on a UEFA Europa League place.

We just have to think about our team.

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek is likely to use him in a more advanced role next month with only three other strikers named in a 28-man squad and Cahill admitted he is hoping to replicate club form for his country.

"As long as I'm consistent and I keep working hard then it should work out," he said. "Ït's fantastic to be here. South Africa is a beautiful place and we're just happy to have arrived and be training hard. This is where we want to be and hopefully come the first game we will be ready."

Cahill also admitted it was a relief to have signed a new four-year contract with Everton this month because he can devote his attention to Australia's FIFA World Cup campaign.

"I think it's important as a footballer going into such a big competition to not have big distractions like not knowing where you're going to be next season," he said.

"You need to be totally focused because that is the only way you can give 100 per cent to your national team. The big thing for me is that I'm very close to the manager and the chairman so I'm buzzing to have signed a new contract."

New Zealand: We're back

New Zealand can already feel the atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup™ at its Austrian training camp, even if they are thousands of miles from South Africa in the Austrian Alps.

"Psychologically we're really in that World Cup mode now," coach Ricki Herbert said on the team's website. "We've got teams like England and Japan preparing (in Austria) so there's a real sense that we're back on the world stage again."

The All Whites arrived on Wednesday in Austria for a week-long training camp to acclimatise to playing at higher altitudes, like several other teams, including England, Spain and the Netherlands.

New Zealand will stay in Sankt Lambrecht around 1,000 metres above sea level until Sunday, before switching to Bad Waltersdorf where they will remain until 5 June.

There's a real sense that we're back on the world stage again.

During this time, the team will play two warm-up matches: against fellow FIFA World Cup participants Serbia on Saturday in Klagenfurt, followed by Slovenia in Maribor on 4 June.

However, the team will have to do without two players on Saturday. Midfielder Tim Brown did not make it to Austria after undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury, and Middlesbrough striker Chris Killen has briefly deserted his team to get married in England on Saturday, having set the date over a year ago before New Zealand's qualification. He will be back on hand for the team's friendly match against Slovenia.

Until then, the All Whites were enjoying some peace and quiet after much excitement and public attention at home.

"It's been euphoria, even in Australia it was the same. Speaking to the staff and the players it's good to be here," concluded Herbert.

Capello still working on Plan B

In a perfect world Fabio Capello would play his best side on Sunday against Japan in the last warm-up match before England fly out to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup™.

He would do what Brazil coaches have done down the years. Throw down his teamsheet for the world to see and declare: 'We are coming to get you.' Capello does not have that luxury, mainly because there are still problems to solve, plans B and C to be formulated, players to be assessed.

Much of the consternation has been brought about by the untimely injury to Gareth Barry. Capello knows he needs a holding midfielder. Without one England look vulnerable as they did in the first half against Mexico last Monday night when James Milner was pressed into central midfield service with Michael Carrick.

The problem actually is of Capello's making. During his reign Barry has been an ever-present in his squad, even this past season when he has not always been in the best of form for Manchester City.

Subsequently, there is no ready-made back-up in a position in which England are not overly blessed, especially since Owen Hargreaves has been excluded because of a season of inaction at Manchester United. By common consensus Hargreaves was England's most influential player in Germany four years ago. Hence the need to plug the void.

Capello could put Steven Gerrard there but he would lose one of England's main attacking thrusts and anyway Gerrard has not always proved to be the most dependable individual when the main job is restricted to putting out fires.

So, after disappointing performances by Carrick, Milner and Tom Huddlestone against Mexico, against Japan there is every chance we will see West Ham's Scott Parker given a late chance to prove he can provide protection in front of a back four which is not without its problems.

Not an ideal place for England to be two weeks from their first FIFA World Cup group match against the USA. Scuffling around to find solutions for a thorny problem in the midfield make-up, even though Barry himself would hardly rate as one of England's world-class players.

There is also a case for Capello to give Joe Cole, also one of England's best players four years ago, an opportunity. If Gerrard had to be deployed in the middle to cover for Barry, then Cole has shown he can be an effective attacking midfield force from wide left. He would bring creativity and much-needed unpredictability to Capello's side.

It all makes the Japan game not so much a match where victory is required to send England off to South Africa with confidence and momentum, but one to solve individual riddles. The hope, however, is that as well as looking to Plan B, Capello also sticks to what he knows best and remembers what took England through qualifying in imperious fashion.

That would see Emile Heskey return to the arrow tip of Capello's side. True, his critics would point again to his lack of goals and his truncated game-time at Aston Villa. Yet the fact is that Heskey simplifies England's attack. Heskey allows Wayne Rooney to play as the second striker in the hole where he can do most damage.

Yes, Rooney can play up front by himself. He has proved that magnificently at Manchester United. He can play with Peter Crouch who scores more goals than Heskey. But, for England, Rooney is at his best when Heskey is in the side as demonstrated in a qualifying campaign in which Rooney scored nine goals, the most of any player in the European sector.

Capello does not need any more proof of what they can do although Heskey could do with a game to sharpen his competitive edge. Most of all, however, against Japan, Capello needs to settle on a Plan B if Barry fails to recover.

Walcott: This time I deserve it

Theo Walcott believes he has proved that he deserves to go to the FIFA World Cup™ on merit this time - after his surprise trip to Germany in 2006.

The Arsenal winger was the shock inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad four years ago. At the time, the 17-year-old had never played in the Premier League, although he was bizarrely given a ringing endorsement from Arsene Wenger, who had snapped him up from Southampton.

In an attempt to justify his selection, Eriksson insisted Walcott's pace could be vital as an impact substitute. Yet, as it turned out, the teenager did not kick a ball in Germany as England were knocked out in the quarter-finals on penalties by Portugal.

This time Walcott, now 21, insists he has come of age. He said: "It's nice to get the chance to play and to deserve to play. I didn't deserve to play or to be in the squad at all in 2006. I'd not played in the Premier League and it's just not heard of."

The immense promise Walcott showed during his Southampton days seemed to have reached some kind of fulfilment at the start of last season, when he famously scored a hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb.

It marked the end of Fabio Capello's experimentation work and proved to be the start of England's smooth passage to the World Cup in South Africa. But for Walcott, problems were just around the corner.

He was forced to pull out of the friendly win over Germany in Berlin a couple of months later after dislocating his shoulder. It was the start of an injury-plagued 12 months, after which Walcott struggled badly to find any sort of form and there were huge doubts as to whether the speedster would even make the squad for a friendly against Egypt in March.

I just want to train well and if you train well hopefully you get a chance to play. I don't think anyone's place is guaranteed yet so we'll be working hard.

Theo Walcott, England midfielder.

In the end though, Walcott squeezed his way in, then impressed during a decent victory which provided him with enough confidence to launch a late surge into Capello's provisional 30-man party.

Walcott retained his place for Monday night's victory over Mexico, although England's other pacy winger, Aaron Lennon, did came on in the second half to cause a few more problems.

However, Walcott is hoping to be involved against Japan in Austria on Sunday, after which Capello will cut his squad from 30 to 23.

"Hopefully I can play again and have a good game," Walcott said. "I'm just trying to play well and train well and hopefully I'll be in the 23. We're not thinking about competing for places, we just want to get results. For me I just want to train well and if you train well hopefully you get a chance to play. I don't think anyone's place is guaranteed yet so we'll be working hard like we did last week in training in Austria."

Although they do not play in the same style, Mexico were handpicked by Capello as a warm up for the Group C opener against the United States in Rustenburg on 12 June.

To that end, Walcott feels the central American outfit did their job perfectly and the win, even though it was achieved with a performance that was unconvincing at times, was vital for the spirits of both the fans and players.

"Mexico were great opposition," he said. "They kept the ball very well and broke very quickly on the counter attack. It was a good performance and most importantly we got the result for the fans who were fantastic again. I felt very good out there. It's just nice to know I'm featuring again."

Meet Argentina's home boys

Since his appointment as Argentina coach in November 2008, Diego Maradona has called up 108 players to the national team. Having finally finished his auditions, El Diez has whittled the cast list down to 23, naming six Argentinian league players in his squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, the largest home-based contingent since France 1998.

Making up the sextet are Diego Pozo, Ariel Garce, Clemente Rodriguez, Juan Sebastian Veron, Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Palermo. And as with the other 17 members of the squad, all of whom play in Europe, Maradona has complete confidence in their abilities: “Everyone in Argentina has their list but this is mine and I live and die by my 23 players.”

Maradona’s selection marks a slight change in La Albiceleste’s recent dependence on higher-profile European exports. Marcelo Bielsa’s squad for Korea/Japan 2002 featured only two men who plied their trade at home, while Jose Pekerman named only three such players in his list for Germany 2006, a far cry from the days when Argentina’s FIFA World Cup squads were almost entirely domestic in nature. Indeed, Mario Kempes was the only “foreigner” in the side that triumphed at Argentina 1978, and Carlos Bilardo’s Mexico 1986 champions featured only six overseas-based players.

The sorcerer and the boxer
Of the current six, perhaps the two players with the best chance of making the starting XI for the world finals are the 35-year-old Veron and Otamendi. La Brujita (The Little Witch) will be travelling to South Africa intent on making amends for Argentina’s disastrous showing at Korea/Japan 2002, while Otamendi, who made his first-division debut with Velez Sarsfield in 2008, is a combative defender with a big future ahead of him. The 22-year-old former amateur boxer can expect to make the trip across the Atlantic sooner rather than later if he puts in some punchy displays in South Africa.

Providing strength in depth will be Pozo and Garce, two of the lesser-known members of the squad, both of whom play their club football for Colon under ex-striker Antonio Mohamed, a good friend of Maradona’s. Goalkeeper Pozo has already appeared in two friendlies and will be third-choice custodian at the finals behind Sergio Romero and Mariano Andujar.

We’re all here now and it doesn’t matter who comes from where. I’ve got 23 Argentina players who are going to fight all the way in South Africa.

Coach Diego Maradona defends his selection of domestic-based players

Now 30, Garce had been planning to travel to South Africa to cheer the team on from the stands but has had to rearrange his travel plans following his surprise call-up. Firmly in contention for the right-back slot, Garce had little inkling that he would feature in Maradona’s plans after a solitary international outing against Haiti.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard I’d been named in the squad,” said the incredulous full-back. “A lot of people were saying that the friendlies with the home-based players were a waste of time, but the players were determined to show what they could do and win a call-up. This is the happiest moment of my career.”

Maradona has no doubts the defender merits his place, however: “Anyone’s who’s surprised about Garce’s inclusion obviously hasn’t been watching Colon and doesn’t know where Santa Fe is. It pays to be well-informed.”

A big-club mentality
Another of the candidates for a role at full-back is Clemente Rodriguez. The former Boca Juniors product has been impressing for Estudiantes of late and can play on either flank. Rodriguez also has international experience to draw on, having featured in the side that finished runners-up at the 2004 Copa America and the U-23 team that won gold at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004.

Nor should the claims of Palermo be overlooked. The ageless goalgetter has strong links with both Boca and Estudiantes. Starting out with El Pincha, he has gone on to become the leading marksman in Xeneize history and has also scored more goals than any other player during Maradona’s reign, five in total. “Martin is an amazing striker,” commented Albiceleste skipper Javier Mascherano in praise of Palermo. “He’s a phenomenon, and he saved our skins in the qualifier against Peru. It was like something out of a film. I hope he can do it again in South Africa.”

“I’m so excited about it,” said Palermo himself, who got the nod ahead of the likes of Lisandro Lopez and Lucas Barrios. “I know I can add that little bit extra.”

The last word, not surprisingly, goes to Maradona. “All sorts of things were said when we arranged those games for local players, but the results of those matches can be seen in this list,” he said, offering a typically robust defence of his selection procedure. “We’re all here now and it doesn’t matter who comes from where. I’ve got 23 Argentina players who are going to fight all the way in South Africa.”

Messi fears England threat

PA
Argentina forward Lionel Messi believes that England number among the leading contenders to lift the FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. Many people's favourites for the tournament, which starts two weeks today, are Spain and Brazil, but the 22-year-old puts Fabio Capello's side in the same category.

"I think that right now, the strongest sides going into the World Cup are Spain, England and Brazil," he told CNN International. "They had a strong, easy qualifying and are very tough."

Messi was a little more coy about his own side's chances. "Hopefully, it will be my World Cup, Argentina's World Cup and that we hit the ground running and play up to people's expectations and win the World Cup," he said.

I think that right now, the strongest sides going into the World Cup are Spain, England and Brazil.

Lionel Messi

Messi has had another stellar season with Barcelona, winning another La Liga title under Pep Guardiola and playing at a consistently high level which has seen him hailed as one of the greatest players in history. There is still a feeling in Argentina, however, that he does not reproduce that form at international level. Messi tries not to pay too much attention to that.

"People have an opinion and I respect it," he said. "I'm the first person who wants to do well with my national team and perform like I do with Barcelona. I know that this is a really good opportunity for me and I'm going to try to do it.

"They are different systems and different styles and everything. At Barcelona, Guardiola decided to use me more in the middle and that's when I had more touches on the ball and played more around the front of the area. And well, I've had the luck to be able to score more goals."

Messi said he and his Argentina team-mates were getting used to being coached by Diego Maradona, someone they idolised as youngsters. "At first, it was strange to have him as our coach," he said. "The truth is he was a little imposing. But afterwards, we started getting used to him and he's been our coach for a while, so now it's normal.

He's really close to the players, he's one of the guys, so there's no problem. Maradona has always been very nice to me.

Lionel Messi on Argentina coach Diego Maradona

"Also, he's really close to the players, he's one of the guys, so there's no problem. Maradona has always been very nice to me. Even before he was our coach and I took my first steps as a professional. Now that I have him as a manager, he's even closer and gives me a lot more confidence than he did before."

Argentina are in Group B in South Africa, alongside Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece. They open their campaign against Nigeria in Johannesburg on 12 June.

Algeria thrashed by Irish

South Africa-bound Algeria looked toothless in attack and shaky in defence as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Republic of Ireland in a pre FIFA World Cup™ friendly on Friday.

Veteran Robbie Keane scored a brace and Paul Green one goal against the Algerians, who are drawn in Group A of the finals in South Africa alongside England, Slovenia and the United States.

The Irish, denied a spot in South Africa after a highly-charged a play-off against France, dominated proceedings and fully deserved the win. "We've done fantastically this week: we've beaten two teams going to the World Cup," said Ireland's Liam Lawrence, referring to his team's 2-1 victory over Paraguay on Tuesday. "We've put the past behind us and are looking forward to (Euro 2012 qualifiers in) September," said the Stoke midfielder.

He added: "Algeria are a good footballing side and played well in patches, but I would expect England to beat them. But you never know in the World Cup, people raise their game."

After an uneventful first half-hour, Green got the scoreboard ticking with his first goal for his national team in just his second appearance. The Derby County player bravely went for a Lawrence free-kick that bounced between the striker and goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi, a diving header seeing the ball into the back of the goal.

Algeria are a good footballing side and played well in patches, but I would expect England to beat them. But you never know in the World Cup, people raise their game.

Irishman Liam Lawrence on Algeria's chances in South Africa

Algeria could afford to be upset that the assistant referee seemed to fail to spot a blatant offside from three Irish players. But the north Africans could not complain about not getting on the scoresheet, having failed to get even a single shot on target in the opening period.

They came closest when Abdelkader Ghezzal made a threatening run into the Irish box, but Sean St Ledger produced a perfect sliding tackle to deny the Sienna striker. Things got worse for Algeria when Celtic's much-travelled Keane, the Irish captain, scored his side's second six minutes into the second-half. A neat Damien Duff cross was poorly cleared by Chaouchi and Keane was on hand to swivel and dink the ball over the stranded keeper's despairing dive into the net.

Chaouchi was on hand shortly after to make a smart one-handed save from Keane, who minutes later saw a scrambled effort come off the post as Algeria struggled badly to contain the Irish long-ball tactic. The home side's midfielder Keith Andrews went close with a free-kick with nine minutes to play as both sides made a host of changes that disrupted the natural rhythm of the game.

After Adlene Guedioura saw a strong header come back off the post, the Irish broke and it was that man Keane brought down in the Algerian box under a clumsy challenge from Djamel Mesbah. The former Leeds, Liverpool and Tottenham striker stepped up and converted the penalty to stretch his Irish goal scoring record to 43 in 99 games and compound Algeria coach's Rabah Saadane planning ahead of what will undoubtedly be a most testing trip to South Africa.

Artest’s Buzzer-Beater Douses the Suns’ Rally

The Los Angeles Lakers moved a victory away from the N.B.A. finals when Artest put back Bryant’s miss at the buzzer for a heart-stopping 103-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers hold a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals, with a chance to close it out Saturday night at Phoenix. Game 7, if necessary, would be here on Monday.

Artest had done little all night and missed two shots moments before his game winner. The layup was his second field goal of the game.

With the score tied at 101-101, Bryant took an inbounds pass and immediately pivoted and hurled a 3-point air ball. It landed safely in Artest’s large hands, and he put it up just as time expired.

“He has an uncanny knack of doing this, and sometimes it just works out,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

Bryant finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, a total that did not include his unintentional feed to Artest.

The trends now favor the Lakers. In the history of 2-2 ties, the team that wins Game 5 has gone on to win the series 83 percent of the time.

“We’re disappointed,” Suns Coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’re not going to get discouraged, though. We’re not a team to get discouraged.”

Steve Nash frustrated the Lakers’ defense all night with his slippery moves and smooth shooting, and nearly delivered a comeback victory. He finished with 29 points and 11 assists. He was at his best down the stretch, scoring on a 3-point play, feeding Amar’e Stoudemire for a layup and hitting two long jumpers over Pau Gasol.

The Suns tied the score on a desperation 3-pointer by Jason Richardson, who banked a 27-foot shot off the backboard with 3.5 seconds left.

Derek Fisher had 22 points, his most productive game of the postseason. Gasol started to reassert himself in the paint, finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Nash’s 17-footer with 1 minute 21 seconds left cut the Lakers’ lead to 101-98. Artest missed from 20 feet, with the crowd groaning the moment he shot it. Gasol got the rebound and passed back to Artest for a 3-point attempt, which missed with 51.5 seconds left. More groans.

There was a timeout after Artest’s two misses, and a chance to send in someone else. Jackson did not.

“I don’t know why I left him in the game,” Jackson said. “I actually questioned it myself,” he said, chuckling.

Channing Frye, Nash and Richardson all missed 3-pointers before Richardson finally hit his bank shot.

The Suns made this a series with strong bench play at home. The Lakers reassured themselves with the reliable axiom that bench players tend to wilt on the road, which initially seemed to be the case here Thursday. Jared Dudley was the only Suns reserve to score in the first 30 minutes of play.

It was not until the Suns fell behind by 18 points in the third that the bench came alive. Frye hit a pair of 3-pointers and Dudley — fouled by Gasol at the arc — converted a 4-point play as Phoenix knocked the deficit down to 78-72 heading into the fourth quarter. Frye and Goran Dragic hit two more 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to keep the game close.

The Lakers got a stout 17 points and 13 rebounds from Lamar Odom, but he was the only reserve to make much noise, or play substantial minutes. Jackson leaned heavily on his starters all night, apparently taking no chances in such a pivotal game.

It was a night of hard fouls and hard feelings. Dragic and Sasha Vujacic were assessed a double-technical foul for a brief shoving match early in the fourth quarter. Bryant got a technical 20 seconds later for complaining about a call.

On the Suns’ bench, they were just hoping to keep their coach upright as they fell behind by 17 points in the first half. Gentry became ill early in the game and vomited in a trash can. It was not intended as a symbolic gesture.

Gentry’s disposition worsened in the second quarter when he earned a technical foul for barking at the referee Bennett Salvatore. But the Suns provided some relief, closing the half on a 17-8 run and cutting the deficit to 8 points. Gentry reportedly took intravenous fluids at halftime.

Amid the usual talk of must-wins and momentum, Gentry tried to keep the hyperbole to a minimum. No, he said, winning Game 5 was not a must. But he added, “Somewhere along the line we’ve got to win a game here.”

The Suns went 0-2 at Staples Center in the regular season, then lost the first two road games of this series. Winning a Game 7 here seems improbable.

“Lets not forget what Orlando did last year,” Gentry said, pointing to the Magic’s Game 7 victory at Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.

In a sloppy first quarter, both teams emerged with foul problems. Bryant, Stoudemire and Robin Lopez each committed two. The Suns, flustering the Lakers with a zone defense, jumped to an early 7-point lead.

Without Bryant, the Lakers got a boost from an unlikely source. Fisher, who is known for big playoff shots but not big scoring bursts, scored all of the Lakers’ points in a 9-2 run and got his team back on track.

Bryant took over from there, hitting three straight 3-pointers in the second quarter to fuel a 21-4 run that included 13 unanswered points. Then Odom got rolling and the Lakers surged to a 45-28 lead.

Phoenix kept leaning on its zone defense, a tactic that the Suns contend helped them win Games 3 and 4, but which the Lakers scoffed at, at least rhetorically, after shooting 49.5 percent in a loss in Game 4. Their response Thursday was to attack the zone with dribble penetration. They had some success, but still struggled to score, shooting 41.8 percent for the game — by far their lowest rate in any game this series.

Drogba's pride at historic Double

Match-winner reveals joy at 'fantastic' achievement.

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final
Winning club receives £1.8m, runner-up receives £900,000
Live on ITV1

Didier Drogba maintained his superb record at Wembley as he made it six goals from his last six appearances to help Chelsea win the Double with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth.

Drogba seems to enjoy playing at the national stadium and stole the headlines once again as his crucial strike ensured Chelsea retained The FA Cup.

The Ivory Coast international took his tally to 37 goals for the season and says it was an extra special day for the club after they lifted the Premier League title last weekend.

Drogba said: “It’s fantastic to achieve the double. It was difficult to come back and stay focused for the game because last week was so great. We’ve been celebrating the title and it was difficult today against a very good Portsmouth team.

“We were unlucky in the first half. You start to think that you’re not going to score. The manager said at half time we would keep creating chances like this. We had to believe, stay concentrated and do the job.

“I saw a little gap in the wall. I hit the post again but it went in this time!”

Ancelotti pleased with season finale

Chelsea manager delighted to lead club to Double.

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final
Winning club receives £1.8m, runner-up receives £900,000

Carlo Ancelotti revealed his pride in leading Chelsea to an historic League and FA Cup Double after their Final victory over Portsmouth at Wembley.

Didier Drogba scored the only goal of an action-packed game in which the Blues hit the woodwork six times, and missed a penalty, on their way to lifting The Cup.

Portsmouth also saw a spot-kick fail as Kevin-Prince Boateng squandered the chance to give Portsmouth an unexpected second half lead. Chelsea responded in devastating fashion with Drogba's powerful low free-kick that crashed in past David James off the upright to clinch the match.

"This was the last game and we wanted to win, we wanted to to the double and we wanted to go into the history of Chelsea," Ancelotti told TheFA.com. "We did a fantastic season and this was a fantastic victory.

"It was a very strange game because we hit the post five times in the first half, so we wanted to maintain control and focus. We also conceded a penalty and were lucky to avoid conceding when Petr Cech saved. It was a difficult game but every final is difficult."

The win capped off a fantastic season for Chelsea, who were crowned Premier League champions six days earlier, and they become only the seventh club to win the Double.

The Chelsea manager added: "The most important thing is that this is the first time that this club has won the double so I am happy to be in the history of this club."

Special day for Terry

Blues skipper praises team-mates after historic season.

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final
Winning club receives £1.8m, runner-up receives £900,000
Live on ITV1

Chelsea captain John Terry had nothing but praise for his team-mates and said it was a special feeling to help side win the double with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in The FA Cup Final at Wembley.

Didier Drogba scored the winner on 59 minutes and rounded off a memorable season for Chelsea, who won the Premier League title last week before holding on to The Cup.

Terry admits he was proud to lead his side to both trophies and create a bit of history along the way, as they became the first side to win the double in the club’s history.

"It's unbelievable," said Terry. "It's never been done in the club's history and to do it with this group of players feels so special.

"I thought our luck was out, but what a great free-kick from Didier.

"It is incredible. What an amazing day today. It was one of those days, but we came strong and full credit to Didier.

"The reason why we are top of the league and won The FA Cup is that we are the best team and we have great determination."

DAILY ACTIVITIES AND MAIN STAGE

Teacher's Day Festival 2010 will be abuzz with aktviiti which includes performances by school children, an exhibition of products by exhibitors and the participation by teachers.

Teachers Day Celebration 2010

INFO Festival

The week of May 16 is the day of hope, especially for citizens who have a relationship with education. On this date, our country will be celebrating Teachers' Day celebrations by organizing various activities, including highlights of that award Figure Educators to selected candidates.

This year, the state has been chosen to host national-level Teachers Day celebration will be held at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Kuantan on May 16, 2010.

In the Teachers 'Day celebrated at this time, Star Group through education unit has been entrusted once again by the Ministry of Education to organize a Teachers' Day Festival for four (4) days beginning on May 13 to May 16, 2010 at East Coast Mall, Kuantan .

With the aim to attract all walks of life to attend this festival, whether from outside the Province and at the state itself, Teacher's Day Festival 2010 will feature pertautan concept of knowledge and human capital development.

Component activities during the festival is held the teachers, the various forms of competition, sales and product demonstrations by exhibitors, exhibitors (EXHIBITOR), game-based education (edu-games), sales of books and magazines and so forth that involve direct interaction between citizens educators, students, corporate sector, government agencies, non-government agencies and local communities.