14 Friday 12th February, 2010

Terry to miss FA Cup match amid personal crisis

LONDON (AP) - Chelsea ager Ray Wilkins said wife Toni. captain John Terry will be Wednesday that it “would Terry lost the England allowed to miss be the best for all con- captaincy last week after it Saturday’s FA Cup match cerned” if Terry is given was alleged that he had an against Cardiff amid tur- the weekend off. affair with the former part- moil in his private British media reported ner of international team- life. that the defender would be mate Wayne Bridge. Chelsea assistant man- flying to Dubai to join his John Terry

by Rob Harris 215th consecutive league appearance in the Villa goal. Giggs was substituted in the sec- LONDON (AP) - Chelsea crashed to a ond half after injuring his right arm Handle with care: Cesc Fabregas raises an arm to block Steven Gerrard’s free- 2-1 loss at Everton on Wednesday and in a challenge with Steve Sidwell. The kick. saw its lead trimmed extent of the injury will be evaluated to a point by Manchester United, after Giggs has had an X-ray. by Jeremy Wilson which drew 1-1 with Aston Villa. A lackluster match at Emirates Louis Saha missed a penalty but Stadium was settled by Diaby exploit- Liverpool have reacted Liverpool fury ing a gap in the Liverpool defence to still scored twice for Everton after with collective fury after put Chelsea ahead, Howard Webb, England’s with the French striker’s goals doing a after Howard World Cup referee, failed to big favour for former club United, which survived ’s sending off to award a last-minute penalty earn the point at Villa. following a Cesc Fabregas turns down Arsenal recovered from its week- handball. end loss at Chelsea to close the gap on With only seconds of the handball Chelsea to seven points as Abou Chelsea loses at match remaining, Steven Diaby’s second-half strike clinched a 1- Gerrard attempted to bend a 0 victory over Liverpool. free kick around Arsenal’s appeals “We believe in our title chances wall, only for Fabregas to use and you could see that Chelsea again his left arm to parry the ball to lost tonight and Manchester United a free kick and got one, but it dropped points, it is still open,” safety as Arsenal held out for a was a bit harsh. Then Cesc Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. Everton; United 1-0 win. touched the ball with his “I don’t see any mathematical reason Led by Gerrard, the hand.” why we shouldn’t believe.” Liverpool players protested Fabregas admitted there At , Chelsea was in to Webb, but the appeals were may have been contact with control when Malouda scored after 17 waved away to add to the his arm. “I maybe touched it a minutes by latching on to Didier sense of injustice at little bit with my hand, but I Drogba’s header from goalkeeper Petr following a would have touched it with my Cech’s long clearance. held by Villa string of controversial But Louis Saha exposed Chelsea’s head anyway,” he said. “There weakness from setpieces by heading in head in Tomas Rosicky’s cross. refereeing decisions have been so many incidents a 33rd-minute equalizer from Landon Arsenal survived late scares when this season. that he [Webb] got wrong, that Donovan’s cross, which dropped over Ryan Babel struck the crossbar and Brazil’s soft cen- maybe one more isn’t anything . Cesc Fabregas appeared to handle tre leaves them lag- more. I think we deserved the Donovan won a penalty before Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s ging behind World win – this was a test of charac- half time after being clipped in the late free kick while in the penalty Cup rivals“I’m ter.” area. area by , but Saha’s really disappoint- Fabregas also denied spotkick was saved by Cech. West Ham and Wolverhampton ed with the hand- claims by a Spanish radio sta- But Saha did find the net again in moved out of the relegation zone with ball decision,” tion that he has reached a ver- the 75th after connecting with a long victories and are level on 24 points, ball that was misjudged by Chelsea one above the drop zone. Hull is also said Rafael bal agreement to join captain John Terry. on 24 after losing 1-0 at Blackburn. Benítez, the Barcelona at the end of the United had Nani sent off for a Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Liverpool season. Barcelona issued a two-footed challenge on home captain Cole scored the goals as West Ham manager. “It statement yesterday saying Stiliyan Petrov. The Portugal winger, enjoyed a 2-0 victory over is a handball there had been no negotiations who has recently been in the best form Birmingham, whose former owners and has to with Fabregas and the Arsenal David Sullivan and David Gold are of his career, is now set be a penalty. captain added: “They denied to receive a three-match ban that will now in charge at Upton Park. I don’t it, I’ve denied it. I just want to also rule him out of the Feb. 28 League At Wolves, midfielder David know focus on Arsenal – Arsenal FC Cup final against Villa. Jones netted his first league Everton’s The score was already 1-1 when goal of the season to clinch a Louis Saha [why he is above every single player in Nani saw red in the 29th minute. 1-0 victory over sixth-place celebrates didn’t give their history.” Carlos Cuellar had headed Villa Tottenham. after scoring a it]. The refer- Arsenal’s win closes the ahead after latching on to Stewart “It’s our worst per- goal against Chelsea ee was there. gap on Chelsea to just six Downing’s ball, but United for the 10th formance of the sea- during their English We’ve had points and, crucially, they have son,” said Spurs time this season benefited from an Premier League soccer some decisions also now played Manchester manager Harry own goal. match at Goodison this year which United, Liverpool and Nani’s cross was volleyed back Redknapp. “We Park, Liverpool, we’re not happy Chelsea twice. across goal by Ryan Giggs and James had loads of about.” “It was a massive Collins, with Paul Scholes waiting the ball but England, Wednesday behind him, could only turn the ball never threat- Feb. 10, 2010. (AP) Fabregas had result,” said Wenger. “It is a past Brad Friedel, who was making his ened enough to score.” Picture: Saha previously also fantastic night for the club. been booked, meaning he Nobody realises how hard could have been sent off if it is to play United, Webb had penalised the hand- Chelsea and Liverpool on the He was outspoken in a “enemy” in the interview. ball. Replays, however, indicat- trot, physically and mentally. radio interview about Real “I had a good relationship ed that the infringement had We showed great strength and Maradona lashes Madrid selling Argentina with him (Valdano), but I find taken place just outside the solidarity. defender Gabriel Heinze last it sickening the fact that one penalty area. “I believe we will fight year to French club Marseille, Argentine is hurting another Arsène Wenger, the until the last second of the and he said Valdano was also Argentine,” Maradona said. Arsenal manager, thought the season. We believe in our trying to get rid of midfielder He also suggested that initial free kick should not chances. Chelsea again lost, out at Valdano Fernando Gago. Gago is being Valdano wanted to get rid of have been given, although it United dropped points so it is little used by Madrid coach forward Gonzalo Higuain, an Manuel Pellegrini, a Chilean. appeared that Webb had made open for everybody. I don’t see BUENOS AIRES, al and a teammate with Argentine who is also Real Heinze and Gago have been the decision for a tackle by any mathematical reason why Argentina Maradona on Argentina’s 1986 Madrid’s top scorer - ahead of starters for Maradona. Fabregas on Dirk Kuyt rather we shouldn’t believe.” (AP) - World-Cup winning team. and Karim “We have a giant rival at than Abou Diaby’s challenge Andrei Arshavin, mean- Maradona Maradona, who took over Benzema. Real Madrid, and it’s Jorge on Steven Gerrard. has criti- as Argentina’s national team “He can’t get rid of while, will have a scan today to Valdano,” Maradona said in an cized Jorge coach 14 months ago, lashed “It was a controversial situ- determine the severity of a interview Wednesday with tele- Higuain because he is scoring Valdano, out at Valdano on Wednesday ation,” said Wenger. “I believe hamstring injury. vision TyC. more goals than Benzema and Real Madrid’s for mistreating Argentine play- first that it was no free kick. © The Telegraph Group, Maradona called Valdano Ronaldo put together,” director gener- ers with Real Madrid. “anti-Argentine” and an Maradona said. First Steven Gerrard went for London, 2010

Dan Cole handed first England start for Italy clash

by Mick Cleary though, has recovered who, like most of his front-row ilk, does while on loan at Nottingham. from the dead leg that not tend to do fussy or flamboyant. He gets He was born within a stone’s throw of Leicester tight-head prop Dan Cole will led to Flood being on with things, neither dizzy by his swift Welford Road at the local infirmary, the make his full England debut in Sunday’s called into the side last promotion through the ranks, nor daunted grandson of a former Cumbrian miner. A RBS Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome. Friday and takes his by the prospect of facing one of the mean- former back-row forward, Cole switched to Dan Cole, 22, has graduated not just designated place at est scrummaging units on the world cir- the front row, first at loosehead and then at from the same Market Harborough school inside centre. cuit. tight, when joining the Leicester academy as the England manager but also from the Cole’s elevation is “Dan comes from the right sort of cul- at 18. same no-nonsense, down-to-earth Leicester no surprise given that Now he has been thrust to the fore, his club. he has shored up the stock rising as the result of a succession of Cole, who made his debut from the Leicester scrum the impressive performances for the Tigers, past three months fol- bench against Wales last weekend, gets his notably against his England front-row lowing injuries to first full start, at the expense of David mate on Sunday, Tim Payne. Julian White and Italy Wilson, who has been struggling to shake The Wasps loosehead had such a torrid prop Martin off deep bruising to his neck picked up in time against Cole a month ago that he was that game. Castrogiovanni. And shown the yellow card for persistent England have delayed naming their what might the brood- infringement. bench until Friday to monitor not just ing, shaggy-haired one Cole has made just 22 starts for Wilson’s fitness but also that of locks Steve be telling his Italian ture at Leicester,” said another of their Leicester. England admit that they did Borthwick and Simon Shaw, both of whom team-mates about Cole alumni, England forwards coach John missed training on Wednesday because of just prior to kick-off at Wells. “They don’t moan, they get on with weigh up the risks of pitching a relative a virus. the Stadio Flaminio on it, and are hard-nosed.” novice into the Flaminio fray but believe Lewis Moody was another who did not Sunday? Cole will need to be all that. This time that Cole’s grounded personality will see to take part in contact sessions due to a “Target the bloke last year he was getting used to the exotic him through. making his first start,” National One circuit ranging from the © The Telegraph Group, Diego hand injury. Toby Flood has also been affected by the bug in camp. Riki Flutey, said a deadpan Cole, likes of Cornish Pirates to Sedgley Park London, 2010 Maradona Dan Cole