Friday, October 14, 2011

The Sports Matrix: Friday 14 October 2011


Bell to miss out on opening one-dayer
Ian Bell is likely to be left out of today’s opening one-day international between India and England in Hyderabad. The 29-year-old, for all his gifts, has never really cracked the one-day code and his younger rivals hit the ball much greater distances. MORE
How Kiwi Dragon inspired Wales
Warren Gatland, a former All Black hooker, convinced the WRU board within minutes that he was “one of us – blue collar, working class, straight talking”, and has been the “key pillar” in a strategy that has Wales on the brink of a first World Cup final. MORE
Wales have what it takes to make final
If Wales play like they did against Ireland they’ll beat France tomorrow, I have no doubt. They’ve improved every game since that agoniser against South Africa and I expect this upward curve to continue. MORE
Mancini calls Tevez to 1am meeting
The Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, summoned striker Carlos Tevez to an early hours meeting at his house as he attempted to calm relations between the pair. The forward remains determined to secure an appeal. MORE
Johnson may exit before reviews
With his contract running out at the end of December, Martin Johnson has until tomorrow week to decide if he wants to remain in charge of the England side. That decision could well be taken out of his hands, with a number of reviews set to take place. MORE
‘Lucky’ Irish draw Estonia in play-offs
The Republic of Ireland will play Estonia in next month’s play-offs for a place in next summer’s European Championships. Giovanni Trapattoni’s side avoided the likes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic and Turkey in yesterday’s draw in Krakow. MORE
“It could take years to catch United”
John W Henry believes Liverpool remain “still a long way behind” Manchester United, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting at Anfield. He also admits the legacy of the previous owners meant “it could take years to get the club back where it needed to be.” MORE
Opinion: James Lawton
If you want a motif for the team that former All Black hooker Warren Gatland has fashioned with such nerve and released so confidently into this World Cup, Leigh Halfpenny’s resolution will do well enough. MORE
Rooney handed three-match suspension
Wayne Rooney was last night given a three-game ban for his red card against Montenegro last week, ruling him out of the entire group stage of next summer’s European Championship. Labelling Rooney’s tackle an “assault”, Uefa’s disciplinary panel handed the Manchester United forward the punishment, increased from the mandatory one-game ban, following his kick on Miodrag Dzudovic in the final qualifier in Podgorica last Friday, which ended in a 2-2 draw that saw England top the group and reach the finals. Coach Fabio Capello will wait to learn Uefa’s official reasoning before deciding whether or not to appeal, mindful of the possibility of the ban being increased further. The Italian now faces the decision over whether or not to include Rooney in his squad for a tournament in which England’s participation could be over before the striker is available. MORE
Rooney loss has Capello pondering
After the draw with Montenegro there was no indication in Fabio Capello’s demeanour that he was considering dispensing with his primary asset. But this morning the reality that he will have to rebuild his team without his key player will be sinking in. MORE

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