SOCCER SHORTS:GERARD Houllier has responded to a growing injury list and youthful squad at Aston Villa by agreeing to sign the 37-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires. Pires is a free agent having been released by La Liga club Villarreal in the summer and is expected to finalise the transfer by the end of this week.
The 2002 Footballer of the Year, who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during a six-year career with Arsenal has been training with Arsene Wenger’s squad in recent months and this week admitted he would consider a move to any promotion hopefuls in the Championship.
Houllier, however, has offered Pires a return to the Premier League after a four-year absence and.
Carroll to make England debut against France
NEWCASTLE striker Andy Carroll will make his England debut against France tonight, Fabio Capello confirmed yesterday. The 21-year-old trained yesterday after sitting out yesterday’s session with a slight injury and will start alongside Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson, who also wins his first cap, and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs. “I want to see the level of all these three young players against a tough team like France,” Capello said.
Of Carroll Capello said: “He’s okay. He’s fit. He’ll play tomorrow He’ll start in the first XI along with Henderson and Gibbs.”
One player who definitely will not play is Jack Wilshere, who is to return to Arsenal with an injury. But the Italian was more hopeful about Phil Jagielka and Joe Hart, who also missed training today.
He said: “Wilshere is going home. Jagielka has flu but we think he will be okay tomorrow.
“Hart, the doctor is waiting to decide what happened. We think it will not be a big problem for him.”
Asked whether he was concerned about allegations surrounding Carroll’s private life, he said: “No. I think you have to help him because he made a mistake but he is really young.
“I think everyone makes mistakes during their life and you have to help the young ones. He’s a good player and I think he will understand, to stay with the senior (squad) will be really important for him because all the people, the newspapers, journalists will be focused on his life. I think he will improve.”
Convincing win for Scotland
CRAIG LEVEIN’S makeshift Scotland side cruised to an easy victory over the Faroe Islands in their friendly international at Pittodrie last night.
Danny Wilson’s debut goal after 24 minutes took the pressure off before Kris Commons and Jamie Mackie both scored their first goals in a dark blue shirt to have the game finished by the break, with the second half a non-event.
Scotland will face tougher tests when they resume their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign next September with the double-header against the Czech Republic and Lithuania at Hampden, even though they will probably have most of their top players back from injury.
Levein had left several regulars out of his original squad for this less-than-glamorous friendly and was then hit by nine withdrawals. The Scotland boss was adamant opportunities were there for other players including 18-year-old Liverpool defender Wilson and Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan who made their debuts.
Report expected to boost England
ENGLAND’S hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup will be boosted by the publication today of Fifa’s technical reports, which will categorise the bid as a low legal risk with a high potential financial return, but is also expected to highlight four contractual areas where government guarantees are not currently met.
Karren Brady, the West Ham United vice-chair who is also head of the 2018 advisory board, said yesterday the publication of the reports should help England’s bid refocus attention on its strong fundamentals and its ability to generate a healthy return for Fifa.
“Our hope is that the executive committee’s vote is based purely around sporting credentials. If that is the case, we know we have a very strong chance,” she said. The England bid team will take heart from criticism of their two major rivals – the Russia and Spain/Portugal bids – on transport and security respectively.
Worthington looks to Brunt
NORTHERN Ireland manager Nigel Worthington believes Chris Brunt could become one of the game’s biggest stars – but has challenged him to reproduce club form for his country. The West Brom winger was linked with Liverpool over the weekend as plaudits for his prominent role in his club’s fine start in the Premier League continue to roll in. Worthington feels he is yet to see the best of the 25-year-old in a Northern Ireland shirt but puts that down to the responsibilities of the position at international level being slightly different.
New Morocco coach Eric Gerets believes he has inherited an outstanding player in Marouane Chamakh – thanks to Arsenal. I get the impression since he has joined Arsenal he has become a more complete player. They play fantastic one-touch football and he is getting better every week.”
Argentina look to end run
ARGENTINA will look to end a run of five matches without beating Brazil when South America’s big two renew their rivalry in a friendly in Qatar today. Argentina last beat Brazil 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires in June 2005.
Probable teams:
ARGENTINA:Romero; Zanetti, Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze; Banega, Mascherano, Pastore, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain.
BRAZIL:Victor; Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Andre Santos; Ramires, Lucas, Elias, Ronaldinho; Robinho, Neymar
