West Ham ‘mulls role for Beckham’
West Ham co-owner David Gold is tempted to hand David Beckham a key role as the East London club seeks to obtain residency at London's Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games, media reports said on Sunday.
Gold views the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder as the ideal ambassador to secure a deal to move the English Premier League club to the new ground and is also mulling the possibility of handing the former England skipper a short-term playing role.
"David Beckham could play a massive part, because of his roots, in helping West Ham win the Olympic Stadium. And maybe he can still play for us in the autumn of his career," Gold told the Sunday Express.
"For him to join a club like us and help us bring another dream to fruition would be perfect for everyone. We want him aboard."
LA Galaxy star Beckham, denied the chance to play at this summer's World Cup owing to injury, has admitted he would love to feature for a Great Britain tem at the London Games in his home city, even though by then he will be 37.
"If I'm still playing and I'm still considered to make a difference to the team I'd love to, but if not then I'm definitely going to be there anyway," Beckham said recently.
"It's the east end of London - it's on my manor. To be part of getting the Olympics to the east end of London... it's one of the best experiences that I've ever experienced," Beckham said after working as an ambassador for the successful 2012 bid.
Related info :
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE[2] (born 2 May 1975)[3] is an English footballer who currently plays in midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.[4] He is also an established member of the England national team.
Twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year[5] and in 2004 the world's highest-paid footballer when taking into account salary and advertising deals.[6] Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches.[5] He was Google's most searched of all sports topics in both 2003 and 2004.[7] With such global recognition he has become an elite advertising brand and a top fashion icon.[8][9] Beckham was captain of England from 15 November 2000[10] until the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals,[11] during which he played 58 times. Since then he has continued to represent his country and earned his much-publicised hundredth cap for England against France on 26 March 2008.[12] He is currently England's most-capped outfield player with 115 appearances.[13]
Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17.[5] During his time there, United won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.[5] He left Manchester United to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, where he remained for four seasons,[14] clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club.[15]
In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Real Madrid and sign a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[16] Beckham's contract with Los Angeles Galaxy became effective on 1 July 2007 and gave him the highest player salary in MLS history.[17] His playing contract with Galaxy in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was worth $6.5m per year.[18][19][20] He debuted for the team on 21 July 2007 in a friendly versus Chelsea at The Home Depot Center,[21] and on 15 August, he had his first start with the team, scoring his first goal in the 2007 SuperLiga semi-final.[22] His first league start then came on 18 August in front of a record crowd at Giants Stadium.[23]
Beckham is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (née Adams).[24] The couple have three sons and currently reside in Beverly Hills, California.
Dutch stand in way of Brazil juggernaut
Brazil swept into a World Cup quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands after a clinical and uncompromising 3-0 victory over Chile at Ellis Park on Monday.
Bert van Marwijk's Dutch side saw off Slovakia 2-1 earlier in the day, with star winger Arjen Robben marking his first start of the tournament with the opening goal.
The sides will meet in Port Elizabeth on Friday, in a repeat of their 1998 semi-final encounter in France, which Brazil won on penalties.
The Selecao went on to lose to the hosts in that year's final, but they look on track to capture a record-extending sixth World Cup title after handing Chile the fate of the first South American side to be eliminated from the competition.
Chile had charmed neutrals with their enterprising play in the group phase, emerging from Group H as runners-up behind Spain.
They took to the field against Brazil with the same sense of endeavour but were undone by goals in the 34th and 38th minutes and never recovered.
Roma centre-back Juan put Dunga's men in front when he rose to convert Maicon's corner with a thumping header, before Kaka adroitly set up Luis Fabiano to round Claudio Bravo and tap the ball into the unguarded net for his third tournament goal.
Marcelo Bielsa's side continued to attack gamely but they were undone once again in the 59th minute when Ramires's dribble opened up the Chile defence and Robinho curled home in masterful style from the cusp of the penalty area.
"We have to improve in all sectors of our play, but it was a nice game against Chile," said Dunga, who captained his country to World Cup glory in 1994.
"We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to beat and they are very able technically, they play their football like South Americans."
Two-time finalists Holland have reached the last eight despite failing to hit top gear in any of their four matches to date.
Robben set them on their way in the 18th minute against Slovakia in Durban, cutting inside and unleashing a low shot that flew past goalkeeper Jan Mucha, and the Dutch always looked superior to the team that sent champions Italy packing.
But the match-clinching second goal did not arrive until six minutes from full-time when Dirk Kuyt pulled the ball back for Wesley Sneijder to score his second goal of the tournament.
Robert Vittek converted a penalty with the last kick of the game to become joint leading scorer beside Argentine Gonzalo Higuain on four goals.
"I'm not yet at my top level, but I was pretty confident," said Robben.
"It was a very difficult match. We didn't play our best game today, but it's about winning and going through. We'll save our best game for when we need it."
Off the pitch, the fall-out from two high-profile exits rumbled on, with England coach Fabio Capello admitting to uncertainty about his future and Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigning as president of the French Football Federation.
"I have a contract and I refused a lot of opportunities to be the manager of important clubs because I want to stay here," said Capello, who admitted that the Football Association would be taking two weeks to review his position.
England crashed out after a 4-1 mauling at the hands of old enemies Germany in the last 16 on Sunday and flew back to London on Monday evening.
Escalettes stepped down after France were dumped out in the group phase amid a player revolt over the FFF's decision to send striker Nicolas Anelka home after he fell out with coach Raymond Domenech.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon tennis champion Roger Federer was dragged into the row over FIFA's reluctance to introduce goal-line technology and video reviews in the aftermath of Sunday's controversies.
England's Frank Lampard had a perfectly good goal ruled out against Germany while Argentina's Carlos Tevez was in an offside position when he scored in the game with Chile.
"To me it seems like it's just crying for a change," said Federer, whose own sport has embraced technology to solve line-calling disputes.
On Tuesday, the last 16 is completed when Paraguay face Japan in Pretoria while European champions Spain take on Portugal in Cape Town.
Legal facts :
The definition applies only to England and Wales, by Section 36 of the Theft act 1968.[2]
The maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Robbery and assault with intent to rob are also subject to the mandatory sentencing regime under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. On the 25 July 2006 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published Definitive Guideline on Robbery.[11]
Following R v Mitchell (2005) All ER (D) 74, the sentencing guidelines provided in Attorney General's References (Nos 4 and 7 of 2002) (2002) EWCA Crim 127 no longer apply to street robbery involving the use of guns for which more severe deterrent sentences will almost invariably be required. In November 2005, the Sentencing Guidelines Council issued new draft guidelines concerning robbery
Netherlands, Brazil cruise to last eight
The Netherlands clinically ended Slovakia's giantkilling run at the World Cup on Monday while Brazil finally turned on the style to crush Chile and set up an enticing clash with the Dutch in the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands joined fellow Europeans Germany in the last eight with a 2-1 win over the Slovaks before Brazil switched on the Samba turbo power their fans had been waiting for to beat Chile 3-0, despite a spirited fight by the Latin American underdogs.
Brazil, accused of being insipid up to now, spiced up their game to stand comparison with their great rivals and fellow quarter-finalists Argentina.
Fine goals from Juan and Luis Fabiano in the first half and Robinho after the break continued the torment of Chile at the hands of the five-times champions, who have now beaten them eight matches in a row.
The Dutch were dominant throughout and tiny Slovakia rarely came close to repeating their shock elimination of holders Italy last week, although Robert Vittek scored a consolation penalty just before the whistle.
Arjen Robben, making his first start, picked up a superb long ball from Wesley Sneijder and slammed in a left-footed shot in the 18th minute. Sneijder doubled the score six minutes from the end at the match in Durban.
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said Robben was "an absolute genius" although there remains a suspicion his skill raises the quality of a fairly ordinary Dutch side. They will face a much sterner test against the Brazilians on this form in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
SAMBA POWER
The Samba Boys looked brilliant in attack and solid in defence to almost mirror the panache that swept Diego Maradona's Argentina into the quarters with a 3-1 defeat of a tough Mexican side on Sunday.
There are now three Latin American sides in the last eight including Uruguay.
While Netherlands went through comfortably after maintaining their perfect record, England wallowed in shame after a humiliating 4-1 defeat on Sunday by Germany, which resulted in a torrent of British press abuse.
Their shaken Italian manager Fabio Capello said he wanted to stay in the job, despite England's worst defeat at a World Cup, but told reporters his future would be decided after two weeks reflection by the Football Association.
Seasoned observers said England's showing was one of the worst seen by the country in a World Cup.
The humiliation of another European soccer power, France, claimed the head of the president of their federation on Monday when Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigned.
France, runners-up in 2006, went out bottom of their group following a chaotic players' revolt. French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said last week Escalettes should quit although FIFA had warned against political meddling.
Argentina's defeat of Mexico set up a quarter-final clash with Germany.
REFEREEING BLUNDER
The Germans' quashing of the over-ambition that seems to accompany England to every international tournament unleashed a wave of criticism in the British press both of the failing Premier League millionaires and Capello, considered the team's saviour until the miserable World Cup showing.
Commentators agreed that a refereeing error that disallowed a clear first half goal from Frank Lampard was no excuse.
"You let your country down," the mass circulation Sun said on its front page.
The refereeing blunder over Lampard's disallowed goal and a clear offside in Carlos Tevez's first goal for Argentina revived heated debate over FIFA's stubborn refusal to use the technology adopted by almost all international sports to help decide on vital close calls.
To add insult to England's injury, four men and a woman were sentenced to three years in jail by a special World Cup court for stealing money and other items from some of the players' hotel rooms.
Legal facts :
The victim must be placed in apprehension or fear that force would be used immediately before or at the time of the taking of the property. A threat is not immediate if the wrongdoer threatens to use force of violence some future time.
Robbery occurs if an aggressor forcibly snatched a mobile phone or if he used a knife to make an implied threat of violence to the holder and then took the phone. The person being threatened does not need to be the owner of the property. It is not necessary that the victim was actually frightened, but the defendant must have put or sought to put the victim or some other person in fear of immediate force.[10]
The force or threat may be directed against a third party, for example a customer in a jeweller's shop.(Smith v Desmond [1965] HL) Theft accompanied by a threat to damage property will not constitute robbery, but may disclose an offence of blackmail.
Dishonestly dealing with property stolen during a robbery will constitute an offence of handling.
Soft goal gives US 1-1 tie against England
England's players couldn't get off the field fast enough. The Americans lingered to savor the night.
They walked to the end of Royal Bafokeng Stadium where thousands of red, white and blue-clad fans were waving the Stars and Stripes and cheering their heads off.
Try convincing the U.S. team and its fans there wasn't a winner in the 1-1 draw with mighty England.
"We'll take more out of a draw than they will," said U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, the man of the match. "They're going to feel like they should have won the game."
Facing the Three Lions in the World Cup for the first time in 60 years, the United States rallied and then hung on for an instant boost in confidence that they could advance to the second round.
Clint Dempsey became only the second American to score in two World Cups, getting the tying goal in the 40th minute on a blunder by goalkeeper Robert Green. Howard made six saves in his World Cup debut, withstanding a second-half barrage by Wayne Rooney and his celebrated teammates.
"I think a lot of us came off the field satisfied with this result, but maybe a little disappointed we didn't get more out of the game," U.S. star Landon Donovan said.
Steven Gerrard put England ahead in the fourth minute, blowing past Ricardo Clark to beat Howard from short range. Dempsey tied it when Green fumbled his 25-yard shot that skipped off the ground twice, yet another mistake in a long line by English goalkeepers.
"Mentally we're strong enough to get over it, and as a goalkeeper these things happen," Green told Sky TV. "You prepare yourself for not letting it affect you."
Anticipation had built for six months for the much-hyped game, the first competitive meeting between the nations since the famous 1-0 U.S. upset at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. There were viewing parties across America, and several Major League Soccer teams opened their stadiums to show the match from across the world on large video boards.
"I'm sure they were excited in bars back home. I can only imagine it was pretty intense," Howard said. "We're a resilient side, you know. We're a tough side and on our day we can put a good performance in."
Howard bruised his ribs when Emile Heskey's foot slid into him in the 29th minute. He was down for a while, grimaced several times when play resumed and had a painkiller injection at halftime.
Then he saved the Americans time and again in the second half, frustrating the very high-priced stars he faces each week when he plays for Everton.
Howard said the hit "felt like agony." After the match, he felt sore and said he might need an MRI to make sure there isn't any damage.
"Obviously the adrenaline is pumping," he said. "In a couple hours I'll be struggling."
Big defender Oguchi Onyewu played his first 90-minute game since rupturing a knee tendon in the last World Cup qualifier on Oct. 14. Forward Jozy Altidore, back from a sprained ankle, nearly put the U.S. ahead in the 65th minute, but Green got a hand on his angled shot and it deflected off the corner of the goal.
"A little unlucky," the 20-year-old Altidore said after his World Cup debut.
With each save late in the game, louder chants of "U-S-A!" erupted from Sam's Army and American Outlaws, groups who made the long and expensive trip from home to sit among the vuvuzela-blowing fans on a cool night in the Southern Hemisphere. The crowd of 38,646 included Vice President Joe Biden, who visited the U.S. locker room before kickoff. Some players skipped his greetings.
"I was getting taped," captain Carlos Bocanegra said.
England must try to regroup as it seeks its first major title since winning the World Cup at home in 1966. The U.S., trying to rebound from first-round elimination four years ago, got a boost as it heads into first-round games against Slovenia on Friday and Algeria on June 23.
While not a shocking win to match 1950, the U.S. earned a huge single point in its quest to reach the second round for the first time since 2002.
Both sides started out tentative and nervous. England broke on top when Heskey took Glen Johnson's throw-in and sent a through ball to Gerrard broke in as Clark couldn't catch him and flicked it past Howard for his 17th goal in 82 appearances.
It continued a troublesome pattern for the Americans, who fell behind in three of their last four qualifiers before coming back for a draw or win.
"The funny thing is, we talk about, you know, don't concede early," Bocanegra said. "And man, it's been our trademark lately, conceding early."
Dempsey, whose become a key player for Fulham in England, scored on a play very similar to the goal by Croatia's Niko Kranjcar that went in off Scott Carson's arm and helped eliminate England from qualifying from the 2008 European Championship.
Dempsey took several touches, spun around Gerrard and hit a dipping left-footed shot. The ball hit the field twice, glanced off Green's right hand and went into the net for Dempsey's 19th goal in 63 national team games. Dempsey, who also scored against Ghana as the U.S. was eliminated in 2006, matched Brian McBride in 1998 and 2002 as the only American to score in World Cups.
"At the last second, it moved a little bit," Dempsey said. "These balls move so much, you just hit them on goal, you have a chance. It's one of those goals you always say, `Why can't I get one like that?'"
David Seaman and David "Calamity" James are among the other English keepers to make gaffes, one of the reasons Howard is among three American starters in the 20-team Premier League.
Howard made a point-blank stop on Heskey's 18-yard right-footed shot in the 52nd minute and parried Lampard's 20-foot left-footed shot over the crossbar in the 63rd. Rooney had a quiet night, failing to make good contact with a Gerrard cross while open on the side of the goal in the 76th minute. The ball glanced off his head and went harmlessly wide.
"It was a difficult game," Gerrard said. "I think the important thing in the first game is not to lose. Unfortunately, we've let a poor goal in and we couldn't go on and get the winner."
Related information:
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a football, rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa. It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation[1]. It is used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars. The Leopards host large attendance matches during the Currie Cup at the stadium, instead of their usual home ground, Olen Park.
The capacity of the stadium was increased from 38,000 to 44,530 to be able to host five first round matches and one second round match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup[2].
For the 2010 tournament, the main west stand was upgraded and enlarged and given a new cantilever roof. Other improvements include the installation of new electronic scoreboards, new seats, and the upgrading of the floodlights and public address system.
The stadium upgrade was completed in March 2009 for hosting 4 matches of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
McNabb: Young Eagles must learn to deal with boos
Donovan McNabb has a reminder for some of the young Philadelphia Eagles: He's no longer going to be there to absorb the boos.
McNabb was back in the Philadelphia area Saturday hosting a football clinic for 320 kids as part of his ongoing charity work. The six-time Pro Bowl quarterback said he'll always have an attachment to the city where he played for 11 seasons before getting traded to the Washington Redskins in April.
"I've been here for a long time," McNabb said. "I feel like this is part of my home."
Though he was regular winner during his time with the Eagles, McNabb always drew his share of criticism. Now it's time for the team's next generation to see if they can handle the heat that comes with the praise.
"It not only happens with me. It happens with Peyton (Manning). It happens with Tom (Brady). It happens with everybody. When you're the older guy, everybody talks about you. When you win, everybody talks about you. When you lose, everybody talks about you.
"And some young guys always want to get the credit — until they get in the shoes where they're the ones getting the criticism. Then all of a sudden, people don't like the criticism. I can handle that; some people can't. Until they get hit with that type of buzz, then they'll realize the shoes that I was in. But, from afar, everybody wants to be who you are."
McNabb did not name any of his former teammate but he could have been talking about Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, who in May told The Sporting News he was "very happy with the decision" by the Eagles to trade McNabb to the Redskins.
Jackson also said: "I don't think we lost anything, even with McNabb being gone."
It was pointed out to McNabb that some of the children at his clinic will be rooting against him when the Eagles play the Redskins this fall.
"And there are a lot of them who will be following me," he said. "Some of them have already bought Redskins No. 5 jerseys."
Related information:
Carl "Skinny" McNabb (January 25, 1917 – July 16, 2007) was a pinch-hitter in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Detroit Tigers during the 1945 season. Listed at 5'9", 155 lb., McNabb batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Stevenson, Alabama.
McNabb was a major league player whose career, statistically speaking, was only slightly different than that of Eddie Gaedel or Moonlight Graham. He was hitless, striking out in his only at-bat, and never made it back to the majors. He later managed the Tyler Trojans, a Cincinnati Reds affiliate team, in 1947 and 1948.
Following his baseball career, McNabb moved to Jasper, Tennessee, where he ran a grocery store then became a rural mail carrier for 22 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in World War II as a medic, and also started and coached an American Legion Baseball team in Jasper. He died at a local hospital at age 90.
Angels beat Dodgers 4-2 in Freeway Series
Juan Rivera hit a two-run homer and the surging Los Angeles Angels defeated the Dodgers 4-2 Saturday night for their ninth win in 11 games.
The Angels improved to 11-3 since losing leading hitter Kendry Morales to a season-ending broken left leg on May 29. They can complete a Freeway Series sweep with a victory in Sunday's finale.
Scott Kazmir (6-5) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings, struck out five and walked four in winning for the fourth time in his last five games.
Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth to earn his ninth save in 12 chances. The Dodgers had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but Russell Martin struck out swinging to end the game.
John Ely (3-3) gave up four runs and six hits in five innings, struck out two and walked three to end his two-game winning streak.
For the second straight game, the Angels' rotation kept the Dodgers' big hitters in check. Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney were a combined 0 for 11. That trio, along with Manny Ramirez, went 1 for 15 on Friday night, when the Dodgers lost 10-1. Ramirez popped up to short as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
Trailing 4-2, the Dodgers loaded the bases in the seventh when Jamey Carroll walked, pinch-hitter Garret Anderson singled and Martin walked with one out. But Kevin Jepsen struck out the struggling Ethier, then Kemp ended the inning on a fielder's choice groundout.
The Angels took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on Torii Hunter's RBI double and Rivera's 10th homer, which landed in the Dodgers' bullpen with two outs.
They added a run in the fifth on Howie Kendrick's RBI double that dropped inside the right-field line.
The Dodgers made it 4-2 in the bottom of the inning with Martin's two-run double.
NOTES: The Angels improved to 10-3 on their road trip, the first time they've posted 10 wins on a trip since July 17-26, 1964, at Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas City. ... Angels slugger Hideki Matsui, who turned 36 on Saturday, pinch-hit in the ninth. Matsui had homered on each of his previous two birthdays. When informed of that by a Japanese writer before the game, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he'd intentionally walk Matsui, and he did. ... The Angels placed RHP Jason Bolger on the 15-day DL with a strained right shoulder and recalled RHP Rafael Rodriguez from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Related information:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the definitively by the 1932 season.[1][2] The team moved to Los Angeles before the 1958 season.[3] The Dodgers are the two-time reigning National League West champions and have won more National League pennants (21) than any team in history, with ten West division titles, and two Wild Card appearances. They have appeared in 18 World Series, more than any other NL team, and have won six times.
Marrero lifts ASU over Arkansas in 12 innings
Deven Marrero's one-out RBI single in the 12th inning lifted No. 1 national seed Arizona State over Arkansas in the Tempe super regional on Saturday night.
Kole Calhoun led off with his fifth walk. Riccio Torrez was hit by a pitch. Marrero hit the first pitch he saw from Brett Eibner.
Mitchell Lambson (8-2) struck out seven in five innings of one-hit relief.
Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Arizona State tied it when Andrew Aplin scored on Zack MacPhees two-out dribbler.
Bo Bigham, who had four hits, and Matt Vinson both drove in two runs for Arkansas. Vinson homered to put the Razorbacks ahead 6-4. Calhoun answered in the bottom of the sixth with his fourth homer in four postseason games for Arizona State (51-8).
Related information:
Arkansas (
i /ˈɑrkənsɔː/ AR-kən-saw)[4] is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquin name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River. Its diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains, which make up the U.S. Interior Highlands, to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River. The capital and most populous city is Little Rock, located in the central portion of the state.
Capello counts cost as England, US draw in World Cup
Fabio Capello has played down the damage done to England's World Cup campaign by the blunder from goalkeeper Robert Green that handed the United States a point in their group C opener on Saturday.
Green let in an innocuous 25-yard shot from Clint Dempsey to gift the Americans a 1-1 draw after new captain Steven Gerrard had got England's tournament off to a dream start with a well-worked fourth minute strike.
Capello declined to assure Green that he would be in goal for England's second match, against Algeria in Cape Town on Friday, but he insisted there were positive aspects to his side's display.
"I think we played a good match, we created a lot of chances to score goals," the Italian said. "The team tried to go forward all the time.
"I don't think the result is okay for us because we played better than the USA but this is football. We have to accept the result and we are looking forward to the next game."
"I am not happy with the result but I saw, another time, the spirit of England, the spirit of the team, because we fight every time to win back the ball.
"I am not worried for the next game about the phsyical condition because we ran a lot and in the second half we were much better than the US, and usually they are a team that run a lot and press a lot."
Capello said Green had earned his place in the side on the strength of his displays since displacing the more experienced David James as his number one.
"He made one mistake but in the second half he made also a good save. This is the problem of the goalkeeper. I will speak with him and then we will decide what we will do."
Despite the head coach's upbeat tone, Britain's Sunday newspapers blasted Green, with the front pages of the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror both reading "Hand of Clod", accompanied by a giant picture of 'keeper.
"Cock-up keeper Green wrecks dream start," said the News of the World, adding: "Stars and tripe".
"Tainted Glove", said the Sunday Mirror. "Worst Howler Ever", said another headline.
The Sunday Express meanwhile said of Green that "for all our sakes, he's got to go - now."
The Sunday Telegraph said Green's howler had "cost England dear."
England will now go into the Algeria match under considerably more pressure to take three points than they would have been if Green had been able to gather Dempsey's tame 40th-minute shot.
Capello will be without Tottenham centreback Ledley King for that match, who had to go off at half-time here with an adductor muscle problem, although England's midfield should be bolstered by the return of Gareth Barry, who was not risked on Saturday having only just recovered from an ankle injury.
James Milner, who came into the side as a result of Barry being ruled out, lasted only 30 minutes before Capello substituted him for fear he would be sent off after earning a booking for a foul on American full-back Steve Cherundolo.
Green said he hoped to retain the gloves for the Algeria match and insisted he would not let such a high-profile error shatter his confidence.
"I'm 30. I'm a man. I'm strong enough to take it and move on and be ready for another game if selected," the West Ham goalkeeper said. "I have no excuses. It's time to get on with it. That's life."
"The approach is not to let it affect you for however many more you play," Green said. "That's why you prepare mentally. It's something where you've got to hold your head high, hang in there and make sure it doesn't happen again."
England went ahead with their first real attack with a move that was slick but facilitated by slack American defending.
An unmarked Frank Lampard was able to play the ball to Emile Heskey on the edge of the area and the Aston Villa striker was equally unchallenged as he turned the ball into the path of Gerrard, who surged into the box and prodded the ball past Tim Howard.
The United States responded well but England retained control of the match until Green's 40th-minute blunder.
Gerrard was partly culpable, having allowed Dempsey to twist away from him on the edge of the area.
But as Green acknowledged, there could be no excuses for the goalkeeper allowing the ball to spin off his right glove and over the line.
Heskey squandered a chance to restore England's lead by firing straight at Howard shortly after the break but it was the Americans who had the best opportunity to win the match.
Landon Donovan released Jozy Altidore whose close range strike was touched on to the post by Green.
US coach Bob Bradley admitted he was glad to get the opener out of the way after all the hype in the build-up.
"We showed some nerves at the start of the match and England made us pay but that forced us to get going," he said.
"It was a big game, a big night and we take away a lot of positives as we get ready for the next game against Slovenia."
Related information:
The world's first international football match was a challenge match played in Glasgow in 1872 between Scotland and England,[2] with the first international tournament, the inaugural edition of the British Home Championship, taking place in 1884.[3] At this stage the sport was rarely played outside the United Kingdom. As football began to increase in popularity in other parts of the world at the turn of the century, it was held as a demonstration sport with no medals awarded at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics (however, the IOC has retroactively upgraded their status to official events), and at the 1906 Intercalated Games.
After FIFA was founded in 1904, there was an attempt made by FIFA to arrange an international football tournament between nations outside of the Olympic framework in Switzerland in 1906. These were very early days for international football, and the official history of FIFA describes the competition as having been a failure.[4]
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, football became an official competition. Planned by The Football Association (FA), England's football governing body, the event was for amateur players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Great Britain (represented by the England national amateur football team) won the gold medals. They repeated the feat in 1912 in Stockholm, where the tournament was organised by the Swedish Football Association.
With the Olympic event continuing to be contested only between amateur teams, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The Lipton tournament was a championship between individual clubs (not national teams) from different nations, each one of which represented an entire nation. The competition is sometimes described as The First World Cup,[5] and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland, but the FA of England refused to be associated with the competition and declined the offer to send a professional team. Lipton invited West Auckland, an amateur side from County Durham, to represent England instead. West Auckland won the tournament and returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title, and were given the trophy to keep forever, as per the rules of the competition.
In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a "world football championship for amateurs", and took responsibility for managing the event.[6] This paved the way for the world's first intercontinental football competition, at the 1920 Summer Olympics, contested by Egypt and thirteen European teams, and won by Belgium.[7] Uruguay won the next two Olympic football tournaments in 1924 and 1928.
German captain Lahm praises team spirit
Germany has arrived in South Africa with the second youngest team in its World Cup history, the average age under 25 years old.
Captain Philipp Lahm believes its the best team he's ever been part of despite its youth.
The young players have brought flair and unpredictability to the traditional German strengths of power and speed. The teams of the past rarely outplayed opponents with dazzling dribbling, instead outrunning and outmuscling them on the way to three World Cup titles.
Now, the German team includes 11 players of immigrant background, from Ghana to Turkey, who have added an element of skill rarely seen before.
Lahm, who has played in one World Cup and two European championships, is excited about the talent that can be found on his team.
"This young team has a lot of quality and exuberance in it," he said ahead of Germany's opener Sunday against Australia. "Of course we want to start with a win because this would give us even more confidence. We are convinced that we have a good team."
Mesut Oezil, whose parents are Turkish, murmurs Koranic verses before games, then makes unpredictable runs into the penalty box and has an eye for the unexpected pass to the free man.
Marko Marin, a Bosnian Serb by birth who plays alongside Oezil in Werder Bremen's midfield, likes nothing better than to take on a defender and dribble past him.
Sami Khedira, whose father is Tunisian, will take over some of the midfield duties of the injured Michael Ballack, normally the leader of the team.
Six of Germany's players won the under-21 European title last year, and assistant coach Hansi Flick said the youngsters have brought a more carefree spirit to the side.
"I find it good how they communicate with each other," Flick said.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, who at 25 is one of the senior players, said he is very confident.
"We know from experience how such a tournament runs. We will pass this on to the young players, who are very much looking forward to the games," Schweinsteiger said.
Germany still may not have the flair of Brazil, but Loew has been insisting on an attacking style. His predecessor, Juergen Klinsmann, began the trend and Loew has further developed it, intentionally bringing up young players with a certain profile and dropping some veterans.
The Germans will not neglect the qualities that have made them a soccer power, though. This team will be just as fit as any previous and ready to run any opponent into the ground.
"They show a lot of joy in their game," coach Joachim Loew said. "They are always moving and they are very enthusiastic."
Related information:
Germany (i /ˈdʒɜrməni/), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] (
listen)),[5] is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 square kilometers (137,847 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 81.8 million inhabitants in January 2010,[2] it has the largest population among member states of the European Union, and it is also home to the third-largest number of international migrants worldwide.[6]
A region named Germania, inhabited by several Germanic peoples, has been known and documented before AD 100. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted until 1806. During the 16th century, northern Germany became the centre of the Protestant Reformation. As a modern nation-state, the country was first unified amidst the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. In 1949, after World War II, Germany was divided into two separate states—East Germany and West Germany—along the lines of Allied occupation. Germany was reunified in 1990. West Germany was a founding member of the European Community (EC) in 1957, which became the European Union in 1993. It is part of the Schengen zone and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.[7][8][9]
Germany is a federal parliamentary republic of sixteen states (Bundesländer). The capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, G8, G20, OECD, and the WTO. It is a major power with the world's fourth largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth largest in purchasing power parity. It is the second largest exporter and third largest importer of goods. In absolute terms, Germany allocates the second biggest annual budget of development aid in the world,[10] while its military expenditure ranked seventh.[11] The country has developed a high standard of living and established a comprehensive system of social security. It holds a key position in European affairs and maintains a multitude of close partnerships on a global level.[12] Germany is recognised as a scientific and technological leader in several fields.
Even though injured, Beckham still at World Cup
The most famous man in Royal Bafokeng Stadium won't be playing for either team on Saturday night.
He was wearing England's blue training clothes during Friday night's practice, kicking a ball just like the 23 players eligible to suit up in the famous white jersey.
David Beckham won't be appearing in his fourth World Cup, though. The 35-year-old midfielder tore his left Achilles' tendon while playing for AC Milan on March 14 and will miss the entire tournament. Still, he's with the Three Lions lending support and giving advice, which could come in handy when England plays the United States — and Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy teammates, Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle.
Donovan hasn't talked with Beckham recently.
"He's a spy. He's not going to speak to me," the American said playfully this week.
Donovan criticized Beckham in a 2008 book, but the two have since made up and helped the Galaxy reach last year's Major League Soccer championship game.
Now, as often happens in the World Cup, club teammates are on opposite sides. While the bond of being in the same locker room is temporarily broken, mutual admiration remains.
"David has been terrific in every way," Donovan said. "I think he would tell you that initially it was difficult on the field for him to understand the way the game is played in our country but like he always has, he's adapted well. And obviously before the injury he was a big part of our team last year.
"Off the field is I think equally clear. I think he's almost single-handedly brought an awareness to our game that wasn't there before," Donovan added. "It would be one thing if he did that subconsciously without knowing and without putting effort into it, but he puts a lot of effort to helping grow the game in our country, and I think we all appreciate that."
A former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 and gave an instant boost to MLS attendance, if not to the Galaxy's on-field fortunes.
He went on a half-season loan to AC Milan in January 2009 and again in January 2010, wanting to prove to England coach Fabio Capello that he would keep the sharpness necessary to become the first Englishman to appear in four World Cups.
But then came the injury sustained while playing in a Serie A match against Chievo Verona, one that occurred while he wasn't even being challenged for the ball. Soccer's most charismatic player — if never quite its best — had his dream shattered.
He came to South Africa anyway to be with the lads, even scouting for Capello at last weekend's exhibition between the U.S. and Australia. He'll miss most it not all of the Galaxy season while the foot heals, and his England career may be over after 115 international appearances, second only to goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125 from 1970-90.
Becks hasn't been a shut-in in his Los Angeles-area home.
Even while an active player, the two-time FIFA player of the year runner-up assumed the role of a goodwill ambassador and promoter, following the path set by Pele in the 1970s.
"David has taken us into households that didn't appreciate the game, didn't know the game," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. "Attendances are higher at certain games that he plays in. Television ratings are higher."
His World Cup career may be over. His role in spreading soccer across the United States is not.
"Do people come back when David Beckham isn't playing to watch the Galaxy play or the team they're playing against? That's the longer-lasting issue," Gulati said. "He's made it clear that whatever effect he's had, he wants to see that continue. Whether it's coaching, managing, ownership, whatever it is."
Related information:
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE[3] (born 2 May 1975)[4] is an English footballer who currently plays in midfield for Milan in Serie A,[5] on loan from Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[6] He is also an established member of the England national team.
Twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year[7] and in 2004 the world's highest-paid footballer,[8] Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches.[7] He was Google's most searched of all sports topics in both 2003 and 2004.[9] With such global recognition he has become an elite advertising brand and a top fashion icon.[10][11] Beckham was captain of England from 15 November 2000[12] until the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals,[13] during which he played 58 times. Since then he has continued to represent his country and earned his much-publicised hundredth cap for England against France on 26 March 2008.[14] He is currently England's most-capped outfield player with 115 appearances.[15]
Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17.[7] During his time there, United won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.[7] He left Manchester United to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, where he remained for four seasons,[16] clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club.[17]
In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Real Madrid and sign a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[18] Beckham's contract with Los Angeles Galaxy became effective on 1 July 2007 and gave him the highest player salary in MLS history.[19] His playing contract with Galaxy in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was worth $6.5m per year.[20][21][22] He debuted for the team on 21 July 2007 in a friendly versus Chelsea at The Home Depot Center,[23] and on 15 August, he had his first start with the team, scoring his first goal in the 2007 SuperLiga semi-final.[24] His first league start then came on 18 August in front of a record crowd at Giants Stadium.[25]
Beckham is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (née Adams).[26] The couple have three sons and currently reside in Beverly Hills, California.
