Kewell frustrated by wait for club

Harry Kewell admits his search for a new English club is frustrating with the new season closing in fast.

Kewell, 33, endured a difficult injury-cursed spell at Liverpool after a big-money move from Leeds United, before spells with Galatasaray and Melbourne Victory and has now opted to return to the UK for family reasons after one season in his native Australia with A-League side Victory..
The Australia international has been linked with Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Swindon Town, but no deal has been forthcoming and he said his reputation from his last stint at Liverpool hadn't helped.
That's my biggest problem because no one, especially in England, has seen me for four years because I've been away,'' Kewell told Australia's Daily Telegraph. "And obviously when I left England I had a bad name because of all my injuries, but in the last four years that I have played in Galatasaray and Melbourne, I've played all the games.
"It's very difficult. I'm twiddling my thumbs. I'm working and training but don't know what I'm doing. I'd love to be playing back in England to get a feel for that again. Whether it happens or not is another question.
"It's just a waiting game and it's frustrating because I need to do something and once I find out what I'm doing, I'll be a lot happier.''

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Neymar Qualifies Brazil, Uruguay stunned

Brazil came from behind to beat Belarus 3-1 at Old Trafford thanks to a stunning second half free-kick and last-minute assist from Neymar.

The favourites for the gold medal had gone behind inside nine minutes when Renan Bressan popped up to put Belarus into a shock lead. But Pato levelled the scores six minutes later when he headed home.
Brazil continued to press and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Santos star Neymar showed why he is so highly rated and curled a free-kick into the top corner to put his side ahead..
The winger wasn't done though and finished off Belarus with a wonderful backheeled assist in the final minute, which new Chelsea signing Oscar sent into the net with ease.
Ten-man Senegal blew Group A wide open with a shock 2-0 win over highly-fancied Uruguay at Wembley.
Impressive teenager Moussa Konate scored twice, either side of Abdoulaye Ba's first-half dismissal. And in a match littered with fouls - and five more yellow cards - Senegal kept the World Cup semi-finalists at arms' length, with Luis Suarez coming closest when he headed into the side netting.
Outsiders to qualify before the competition started, Senegal know a victory against United Arab Emirates in Coventry on Wednesday will send them through, leaving Great Britain and Uruguay to scrap it out for the additional quarter-final berth.
Egypt's hopes of qualifying for the last eight of the Olympic football tournament took a blow as they drew 1-1 with New Zealand at Old Trafford after wasting several chances.
Egypt fell behind to a 16th minute strike from West Brom's Chris Wood, but Mohamed Salah equalised from close-range at the end of the first half.
The Africans could have had at least seven goals by the final whistle but a mixture of last-ditch Kiwi defending, and some awful finishing from Egypt, meant they had to settle for a draw in what was a poor-quality contest.
Egypt will have to beat Belarus on Wednesday to qualify for the quarter-finals, while minnows New Zealand will have to beat the South American side to progress from Group C.
Giovani dos Santos' two-goal cameo from off the bench gave Mexico a 2-0 win over Gabon and sent El Tri top of Group B on Sunday.
Giovani, who struggled to earn a place under Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, was introduced as a second-half substitute and broke the deadlock after 63 minutes.
He then scored from the penalty spot in injury-time after Gabon defender Henri Ndong was sent off for a professional foul.
Striker Kensuke Nagai fired Japan to the brink of the quarter-finals with a late winner against Morocco. The Grampus Eight frontman struck with an instinctive lob six minutes from time to settle a tight Group D encounter with a 1-0 victor

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Lyon plans to keep Lloris

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will not be moving to Tottenham unless the player asks to leave.

Spurs have been linked with the France captain but the club claim no offer has been made and the Ligue 1 side say they would not welcome one.."Tottenham made contact through [Lloris'] agent but there has been no concrete offer since,'' Aulas said. "I don't think they really want him, but we really want to keep him..
"He will stay at Lyon unless he absolutely wants to go. The best present we can give to the fans is finding a way to keep him. We will try to do just that.''
Lloris started for Lyon in their Trophee des Champions triumph over Montpellier in New York yesterday.

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Everton:Man Utd have no bids for Baines yet

Manchester United have yet to make a bid for Leighton Baines, according to ESPN sources, while speculation grows that Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring Ashley Cole's contract situation at Chelsea.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with Cole ever since ESPN broke the story that the England left-back's future at Stamford Bridge is up in the air with his contract ending next summer and no talks currently taking place to extend it.
However, Baines remains the current focus of attention with several media outlets suggesting a £12 million bid for the defender has now been made by United...
Everton, though, moved to quash speculation that the 27-year-old is the subject of any transfer talks and reiterated that no move from United has been made.
A Goodison Park source told ESPN: "We have not even had a single enquiry from Manchester United.
"Every week we are asked the same question, but it is the same answer, and we are getting a touch fed up with it. For two months it has been suggested that Manchester United have bid for Baines, but it is simply not true."
Ferguson has revealed that he is looking at a back-up for first-choice left-back Patrice Evra, with Fabio sent out on loan to QPR, and his options appear to be to pay the £15 million that Everton want for Baines, or wait for Cole in 12 months time on a free transfer, if Chelsea fail to tie him to a new contract before then.

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Newco Rangers off to winning start

Lee McCulloch grabbed an extra-time winner as Rangers were forced to battle for an historic victory against Brechin in the League Challenge Cup.
The match was their first competitive outing since the club was consigned to liquidation over the summer and voted into the Third Division.
Andy Little celebrated his return to the club yesterday with the opener after just four minutes but Rangers were forced to negotiate the first round tie the hard way when Andy Jackson levelled for the Second Division hosts just before the interval..
It took 102 minutes of football before McCulloch found the winner to finally allow Rangers to begin a new era on a positive note.
New recruits Ian Black and Little were both named in the starting line-up for the Glasgow giants.
Former Hearts midfielder Black joined the Ibrox side yesterday and striker Little re-signed after his Light Blues contract expired at the end of last season.
Both featured as trialists as they cannot be registered until Friday when 'oldco' Rangers' SPL share is formally transferred to Dundee.
Defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian - both expected to leave after several first team regulars refused to transfer their contracts to the newco - also started at Glebe Park.
here were other familiar faces in the starting XI - McCulloch, Lee Wallace and Kirk Broadfoot - as well as youngsters such as Barry McKay and Lewis MacLeod.
Rangers began the match like a team simply desperate to play football again following months of turmoil off the park.
McKay shot high and wide, before Little forced an early save from goalkeeper Michael Andrews.
The breakthrough came after just four minutes when Little raced onto a McCulloch ball and kept his cool to slot past the Brechin number one.
However, if the away fans expected a flood of goals to follow they were disappointed, and the home side almost drew level when Jackson set up Craig Molloy for a low shot that was gathered by Neil Alexander.
Attention was briefly drawn away from the action on the park when a fan within the travelling support climbed part of the way up a floodlight pole in front of the ground's famous hedge before being summoned down again by awaiting police.
On the park, Broadfoot cut inside from the right flank and forced a decent save from Andrews and the keeper was up to the task again to then block a thunderous long range effort from Wallace.
Rangers were left rueing those missed opportunities when Brechin hauled themselves level two minutes before the break.
Ewan Moyes delivered the pass down the left flank and Goian's indecision allowed Jackson to unleash from a tight angle past the grasp of Alexander and into the back of the net.
After the restart, Black had a decent chance to open his goalscoring account with a free-kick just outside the box but his curling effort was tipped just wide.
The former Jambo then squandered a decent chance when he met a Wallace cut-back in front of goal but failed to keep the effort on target.
At the other end, a Jonathan Brown free-kick from 30 yards out was smothered low by Alexander at his right-hand post.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Rangers fans claimed Paul McLean handled a McCulloch shot in the box but there was no penalty from referee George Salmond.
With neither side able to claim a winner inside 90 minutes, the tie was forced to extra time.
City looked lively and David McKenna's shot for the home side deflected just over the crossbar.
Instead, it was Ally McCoist's men who had the net bulging after 102 minutes when McCulloch rose above everyone else in the packed goalmouth to nod home from a MacLeod corner and finally grab a winner for Rangers.

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Terry England future Depends on FA Decision

The England future of Chelsea captain John Terry will hinge on how the Club England Board and manager Roy Hodgson react to the FA's disciplinary hearing over whether Terry used racially abusive language towards Anton Ferdinand.

Terry was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence by a Magistrates court, but the FA opened its own investigation on Friday night when it brought a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards QPR defender Ferdinand.
ESPN has been told that an England ban, should there be a guilty verdict, is not on the agenda of the FA Disciplinary panel currently being assembled to hear the charges..
However, if he is found guilty there is already gathering lobby for the FA to take the high moral ground and bar him from continuing to play for his country.
An FA insider told ESPN: "John Terry has requested a personal hearing and the case it likely to be heard in about two weeks, but this is a domestic disciplinary issue and doesn't affect anything to do with England.
"However, it would then be a management decision by the Club England Board and the England manager about how to proceed."
That will not be an easy option for the FA because much might depend on the attitude of newly appointed manager Roy Hodgson.
The previous manager Fabio Capello quit over the FA's insistence that Terry be stripped of the captaincy because of the pending court action, and the Italian coach insisted it was the prerogative of the manager to decide team selection.
Hodgson has insisted it was a purely footballing issue not to take Rio Ferdinand to the European Championships, although many believe it would have been impossible for both the Manchester Untied and Chelsea defenders to have been in such close proximity for so long in that tournament environment.

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Lahm: Dortmund are favourites

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has admitted that back-to-back Bundesliga champions Dortmund are favourites for the title this season, despite his club's standing in Germany.

Bayern, the most successful side in German history, have brought in the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro to try to get the Bundesliga trophy back again from a Dortmund team who are targeting 2012-13 Champions League qualification as their main aim..
"Dortmund are deliberately acting modest, and let's face it, it's served them well over the last two seasons. I actually talked about this with [Borussia Dortmund president] Reinhard Rauball," Lahm told Bayern's official website.
"But I think the club that have won back-to-back titles start as favourites, although there are other title candidates. I have Schalke on my radar for example, they'll be there or thereabouts."
Bayern have not won the title since 2010 and Lahm believes that complacency cannot be a barrier to their success anymore.
"We had become used to winning the Bundesliga at least every second season," the full-back added. "But we fell short, and that basically cannot be. The title is our priority. I definitely still have a deep yearning for more trophies."

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Rafael sad at 'incredible' Oscar's Chelsea switch

Manchester United full-back Rafael has admitted that he feels sad knowing that Brazil team-mate Oscar has joined Chelsea, insisting that the former Internactional star is "an incredible player".
The 20-year-old signed for the Blues on Wednesday in a deal believed to be in the region of £25 million and has already impressed on British shores with his performances at the Olympics..
Playing a starring role as Brazil beat Egypt in their Group C opener, Oscar created two goals in the 3-2 win in Cardiff and Rafael, who opened the scoring in that game, rued the fact that United's Premier League rivals had secured his signature.
Reflecting on Oscar's assist for his goal, Rafael told Fifa.com: "Wow, did you see that? Oscar’s just too much!
"He’s an incredible player. When I see him doing these amazing things it almost makes me feel sad to think that he’s gone to one of our rivals."
The Selecao face Belarus at Old Trafford in their second game on Sunday and Rafael is looking forward to a positive reaction from the home crowd.
"Well, I’ve been talking about that with the rest of the guys in the dressing room, telling them: 'I’m going to play at home and you’re not,'" he said.
"I’ve been there for five years now. I know everyone and I think a lot of the fans who’ll be going to the stadium will know me well. I think the reception I’ll get will be different." ROMAN BACK ON TOP
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The former Fluminense youngster will face stiff competition from the likes of Daniel Alves and Maicon for a place in the Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup although the 22-year-old is confident he can make the cut.
He added: "Playing for Manchester United gives me hope that I’ll be there at the World Cup. I’ve always said that.
"I know I’ll have a lot of competition from some great players like Dani Alves, and I know how important it is to do a job for Mano [Menezes] whenever I’m playing for A Selecao. But I think I can do it."
Twin brother Fabio recently joined QPR on loan and, despite having spent his entire career thus far playing alongside his sibling, Rafael believes the time apart could be a good thing for the duo.
"In one way, it will be good for us to be apart," he continued. "Perhaps it will help us mature a little more.
"It could end up being a good thing for us. It could give us a different outlook on things. After all, we’ve been together for 22 years now. Fabio is happy there and I’m happy here, with the national team at Old Trafford. I’m going to be thinking of him, that’s for sure."

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Official: Caf media director Suleiman Habuba resigns

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed the resignation of its media director Suleiman Habuba.

Habuba confirmed the news to Goal.com Ghana, explaining that he resigned way back in April, but took effect from this month. Due to his rich experience in media issues across the continent, he will be a communication consultant.
Goal.com Ghana broke the news on Monday, and it has now been confirmed officially by the football governing body of the continent.
“The news of our brother, friend Suleiman Habuba resignation at Caf as media Director comes to us and majority of Africa football lovers as a big shock and a great disappointment,” an email sent to selected media personalities from Caf stated..
It continued: “Mr. Habuba, during his nine years tenure in office, enormously enhanced the channel of communication between Africa media and Caf and this has resulted in a more positive appreciation of the rules and functions of Caf.
“In all our dealings with Suleiman, the media and football authority in Africa found him to be professional, understanding and sympathetic to our needs and demands.”
“Mr. Habuba will always be missed by all of us on the continent especially those of us who are so close to him,” it ended.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary General, Essam Ahmed, has since been appointed acting Media Director.

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Zidan to join UAE club Bani Yas - report

Former Borussia Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan has agreed to a two-year deal with UAE outfit Bani Yas, according to Egyptian reports.
The 30-year-old Egypt international is currently a free agent after his deal with Dortmund expired and he opted not to remain with Mainz after a six-month loan spell where he scored seven goals in 12 appearances.

According to Egyptian media, Zidan has now reached an agreement with Bani Yas, who had signed David Trezeguet last season to spearhead their attack before failing to fire..
Abu Dhabi-based Bani Yas finished the 2011-12 campaign down in ninth, having been runners-up the season prior.
Zidan, who had spent the past seven years in Germany after joining Werder Bremen from Danish club Midtjylland in 2005, had been chased by fellow UAE club Ajman last month.

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Barcelona have no respected for us by cancelling Supercopa Catalunya, rages Espanyol CEO

Espanyol CEO Joan Collet has slammed Barcelona for showing a "lack of respect" towards his side by cancelling the Supercopa Catalunya.

The newly-formatted competition, which was formerly the Copa Catalunya, is held each year and is played between clubs from the Catalan region, but the Camp Nou side have called the game off this year due to a congested fixture list and risk of injury..
The Espanyol official feels that the Blaugrana have shown disrespect for their neighbours with the decision.
“Barcelona have shown a lack of respect for Catalan football, for Espanyol and the [Catalan Football] Federation. It is a sad day for all,” Collet told Marca.
“The message that Espanyol want to send out is that we are 100 per cent committed to Catalan football.
“It seems we always have to do more than necessary to prove this and others perhaps do not do the same.
“We as a club often have to show who we are, and no one can question our commitment to Catalan football," he concluded.
The match had been scheduled for Tuesday July 31 at the Estadi Olimpic.

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Balzaretti eager for Roma move, claims Zamparini

Maurizio Zamparini has conceded that Federico Balzaretti is keen on a move to Roma, but the Olimpico side will have to improve their bid if they are to lure the Italy international away from Palermo..
The 30-year-old has also attracted the interest of clubs such as AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli, with the Partenopei having made a €5 million offer, but Balzaretti supposedly prefers a transfer to the Giallorossi.
"Roma's interest is the most intense, and Federico has told me that he would find it fantastic to live in Rome," the Palermo president stated to Radio Radio.
"However, they will have to improve their offer and, at least, match what Napoli are willing to pay. That means they would have to table a €5m bid without the inclusion of any players.
"Juventus have also stepped forward, while Milan are looking for another [Antonio] Nocerino-like deal. That won't happen, though. Balzaretti is not Nocerino. We'll see what happens."
Balzaretti is contracted to Palermo until June 2013.

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Paul Scholes: Kagawa will Brings Trophies to Manchester United

Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes has admitted Manchester City were the better team last campaign, but he believes Shinji Kagawa could make all the difference next season.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were denied another Premier League title on the last day of last season as Roberto Mancini's side made a dramatic injury-time comeback to lift the trophy.
Scholes is confident Manchester United’s newest signing Kagawa could tip the tables back in the Red Devils’ favour this season..
Signed from German Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund a few weeks back, Kagawa
has already impressed in pre-season and looks like he could improve United’s fortunes in the 2012-13 Premier League campaign.
"He [Kagawa] looks brilliant. I've only been in training with him for a couple of weeks but he's very good technically and you can see the talent he's got already." Scholes told the Sunday People.
"He's had a couple of great years at Dortmund and I think he has been player of the year in Germany - that tells you he's a top player.
"He will bring goals to the team, whether he's scoring them or making them. He's got great movement and is very clever in the runs he makes.
"It's difficult to say which foot is his best. He's equal with right and left. He's a good lad. He doesn't speak much English yet, but I am sure he will be very popular here."
Two months on from Manchester City’s last-minute title win, Scholes has admitted the Sky Blues were the better team last season and ultimately, they deserved to win the league. STICKY START AT TOFFEES
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"You always say the best team wins the league and City were the best team last year," the 37-year-old told Sky Sports.
"The football they played for the most of the season was fantastic. As much as I don't want to admit it, they were good to watch and probably played the best football.
"So from that aspect, they were the best team and deserved to win it. They have raised the bar and it's up to us to now kick on and do even better than they did.
"It's always a motivating factor when you lose the league and perhaps we will be motivated even more after what happened.
"It isn't nice when you see another team winning the title on the last day of the season. You have that picture in your head of them celebrating and you don't want it to happen again.
"I still don't really understand what happened.
"We should have won the league and we didn't. In the end, we failed. To be in the position we were - eight points clear with six games to go - well, it's not like us."

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Golden generation - but Spain's Olympic hopes hang in the balance as Brazil await

There was no tiki, there was no taka. Spain's golden generation of footballers may have won it all in recent seasons, but adding Olympic glory to their World Cup and European Championship successes suddenly appears a tall order following a surprise loss to Japan on Thursday.
Notorious slow starters in major competitions, Spain managed only a draw against Italy as Euro 2012 got underway and went down to Switzerland in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup.
This result, however, could prove far more costly..
Spain can still qualify for the last eight, but Luis Milla's side will also hope to avoid a second-round clash with fellow favourites Brazil, 3-2 winners over Egypt later on Thursday.
The Selecao, despite almost throwing away a three-goal lead, look likely to top Group C. Spain, then, will need to win Group D to avoid a meeting many had expected to be the final.
Yuki Otsu got in front of Martin Montoya to fire the Japanese ahead after 34 minutes and, seven later, Inigo Martinez saw red for a foul on Kensuke Nagai. The Real Sociedad defender was the last man - he had to go.
Spain improved after the break, but failed to truly test the Japanese and after Jordi Alba missed a clear chance to save their blushes right at the end, La Roja find themselves bottom of Group C after Honduras and Morocco drew 2-2 in the other match.
So now, just like at the World Cup in South Africa, Spain go into their second game against Honduras knowing that only a win is likely to be good enough. And even two victories from their remaining group games may not be sufficient to advance as winners of the section.
Finish runners-up and Brazil (with Belarus and New Zealand to negotiate) are likely to await in the quarter-finals, leaving one of the two favourites without a medal of any colour. And on the evidence of Thursday, it won't be the South Americans going home early.
So after just one game, the moment of truth has already arrived for Spain's golden generation. Now they must respond like champions.

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Fabio Simplicio joins Cerezo Osaka

Fabio Simplicio has moved to J-League side Cerezo Osaka after leaving Roma.
international midfielder joined Roma in 2010 but slipped down the pecking order at the Stadio Olympico.
His contract there was terminated a year early by mutual consent, and Cerezo - 15th in the J-League and just two points clear of the relegation zone - came in for him..
"I understand that the club [are] in a tough situation," the 32-year-old said. "That's why I want to play my best and contribute to Cerezo as quickly as possible."
Cerezo, coached by Sergio Soares, have sold midfielders Hiroshi Kiyotake and Kim Bo-kyung to Nuremberg and Cardiff, while Takihiro Ogihara and Hotaru Yamaguchi are in Japan's squad at the London Olympics.
Simplicio first moved to Italian football in 2004, joining Parma, and also played for Palermo.

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Wenger: No bids for RVP

Arsene Wenger lost his composure in the face of repeated questioning about Robin van Persie, with the Arsenal boss insisting there has been no further contact from Manchester City or Manchester United.
Following his side's 2-0 loss to City in a pre-season friendly in Beijing, Wenger faced a greater number of questions about a player who was not on the tour than the game itself..
Van Persie was not taken to Asia, with the club electing to let him stay in London to work on his fitness on the back of his announcement that he will not sign a new deal.
While Juventus have suggested they cannot afford to pursue to the player, Sir Alex Ferguson earlier said United had made a bid, and Roberto Mancini has done little to calm reports of City's interest. It would appear all the transfer speculation is not sitting well with Wenger.
"We will not come back forever on Van Persie," he said. "We have many strikers at home. Van Persie is one of them. We have not had any more contact from City or United about him at all. The Van Persie case doesn't cross my mind. We have had no offers.
"We have talked about Van Persie. We have just played a game, there are four English people here and there have been four questions about him. I have talked about Van Persie and I'm not talking about that question anymore. Do you understand?"
Mancini, who has this week spoken of his frustration with his club's activity in the transfer market, claimed to be in the dark over the Van Persie situation when told of Wenger's comments.
Mancini said: "I think it is like this. If Wenger said this, I think it is true. Van Persie is one of the best strikers in the world - it is difficult to buy him. Have we made an offer? I don't think so."

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Shevchenko to quit football for politics

Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko has announced his retirement from football as he plans for a new career in politics.
It had been suggested that Shevchenko, 35, would sign a contract extension with Dynamo Kiev if the club reached the group stage of the Champions League, but he has now decided to bring down the curtain on an illustrious career..
"Recently, there has been a lot of talk that I could sign a new contract with Dynamo or play abroad," he said. "I can say, with confidence, that neither will happen. Perhaps this will shock everyone: I have decided to bring an end to my football career and to enter politics."
He vowed to reveal more details of his future plans in the imminent future. "I will make an official statement," he said. "I hope to have your support."
In his prime, Shevchenko had been one of the deadliest strikers in world football. He had risen to prominence when his partnership with Sergei Rebrov made Dynamo Kiev a European force in the 1990s, and a move to AC Milan in 1999 enhanced an already strong reputation.
Across two spells with the Rossoneri, he became the club's second highest scorer of all-time behind the great Gunnar Nordahl, with 175 goals in 322 appearances.
His career took a backwards step, however, with an ill-fated move to Chelsea in 2006, with the forward struggling to find his place at Stamford Bridge and eventually being allowed to move on, with a loan return to Milan in 2008 followed by a permanent return to Dynamo in 2009.
He is also by some distance the all-time leading scorer for the Ukraine national team, with 48 goals in 111 appearances. At the recent European Championship, Shevchenko had scored a brace in Ukraine's opening game in Kiev to inspire a 2-1 victory over Sweden.

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Rangers to sign Black and Little

Rangers have moved swiftly to reinforce their squad after they were granted conditional Scottish Football Association membership on Friday night.
Ian Black, the former Hearts midfielder, has signed for the club on a free transfer, while Northern Ireland striker Andy Little has joined newco from the original club following the expiry of his contract at the end of last season..
Black has signed a three-year deal and Little has committed for two years with the option of a third.
Rangers are unable to formally complete the deals until next Friday, but the pair are eligible to play in Sunday's cup game against Brechin as trialists.
"I'm delighted to be here," Black said. "The move has been a long time in coming with all the talk there has been in the papers. About four weeks ago, there was a bit of interest shown and, after that, it was just a waiting game for me. I was really excited to hear the manager was interested in me.
"Now I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to come and play here. I had a good few other clubs wanting me to sign for them but coming to a club like this is great. I had opportunities to stay in the SPL and people might criticise me for not doing that but I want to win things here now.
"I know Rangers are in the Third Division but you only get an opportunity to come somewhere like here once. It's something I wanted to give a shot. Playing in front of big crowds will be great and I'm looking forward to it."
Little added on the club's official website: "I think relief is probably one word to describe it. It's been really, really tough these last few months. I know it's been hard for everyone but I've found it particularly tough not knowing where I was going to be or what my future was.
"Everybody saw that the story changed every day and it was very much in the public eye and I'm delighted now that I know where I'm going to be playing my football now.
"I was never in a massive rush because I had some time where I could weigh up my options and I'm glad that I didn't rush it because I had a couple of times where other clubs were giving me dates to make a decision.
"I found it very difficult to think about going to those clubs without knowing the future of Rangers and that was a big thing for me. I wanted to wait until the end to find out what was happening but I'm really, really happy to be back here."

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Jol doubt for Dempsey decision

Fulham boss Martin Jol remains hopeful Clint Dempsey will stay at the club this season.
Dempsey, 29, has said he is keen to play in the Champions League before the end of his career and is looking to move on this summer, with Liverpool seemingly leading the race for his services.
As yet, though, Fulham have not received a concrete bid and, while the USA international is now into the final year of his contract, Jol wants to keep him at Craven Cottage.
Asked about the speculation, he told the Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle: "I don't want to talk about that. I love Clint, he scored a lot of goals and I want to keep him."
Jol also revealed that he is hoping to add to a third striker to his attack before the close of the transfer window.
Fulham have already brought in Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric, but they sold Bobby Zamora to QPR in January and Andy Johnson and Pavel Pogrebnyak have both departed since the end of the season..
"We're still looking to strengthen because we lost three strikers," Jol said. "Bobby in January and Andy and Pogrebnyak. We've got Rodallega and Petric and maybe we're still on the lookout for another one."
He added: "Rodallega is fit now. He had an ankle injury but trained for the first time on Friday. Petric is looking pretty good as well.
"Rodallega is similar to Andy Johnson. He's got a lot of pace to stretch defences and can also play on the left. Petric is a number nine but can play off a big man as well. He's really versatile. I know him from Hamburg and he was a very talented boy."
Fulham are also looking to sign another midfielder, with Danny Murphy having departed for Championship side Blackburn despite having verbally agreed a one-year extension at Craven Cottage.
"I was sad that Danny went," Jol said. "We agreed terms then Blackburn offered him two years. That happened within one or two hours so I was not happy with that. I wish him all the best because he was a great servant for this club and I wanted to keep him.
"[Mahamadou] Diarra can play that role and Dickson [Etuhu] is still here, but we're certainly looking for one midfield player."

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Monaco not interested in Giuly's contract again

Monaco have confirmed that Ludovic Giuly has left the club after an agreement was reached to terminate his contract.
Giuly, 36, had spent six years at Monaco before leaving in 2004 to move to Barcelona, and spells with Roma and Paris Saint-Germain followed..
Last summer, he returned to the club on a two-year deal following their relegation as he sought to try to help them secure a return to the top-flight at the first attempt. Monaco ultimately finished eighth in Ligue 2, and new manager Claudio Ranieri has now allowed the former France international to leave the club.
"I had an opportunity to live the best years of my career with Monaco," Giuly said on the club's official website. "I would like to thank the managerial team for conditions under which I finish my adventure at ASMFC."
Monaco announced that Giuly would be honoured at a ceremony on Monday ahead of the game against Tours and the club's managing director, Filips Dhondt, paid tribute to his efforts.
"Ludovic Giuly made an unforgettable impression during his two spells at AS Monaco FC," he said. "He will continue to be an iconic figure for our club."
Giuly is now searching for a new club.

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Villas-Boas slams at Blues

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has aimed another jibe at former club Chelsea, claiming his Spurs players are a better group to work with.
Villas-Boas was sacked by the Blues in March amid rumours that top players in the dressing room had forced him out, and as Tottenham prepared for their pre-season friendly clash with Liverpool in Baltimore, Villas-Boas, who replaced Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane, was quick to praise his new squad.
Asked how he had been received by the Spurs players, Villas-Boas said: "It is a question you need to ask the players, but from my perspective I have been adapting to them. They are a great group who are enjoying what they are doing. You will get a more specific answer from the players, of course..
"I think the warmth of the group is excellent to see, and you know two different groups react differently, and we've seen that the spirit within this group has been fantastic - it's different from what I had in the last year."
Villas-Boas also said that Spurs had done nothing wrong with regards to Gareth Bale's Olympic absence.
Bale has not taken part in Team GB's campaign due to injury, but he has appeared for Spurs in a pre-season friendly. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said this week that the player could be banned were a complaint made, though the FA has no intention of doing so.
"I can understand the frustration for missing a player of Gareth's dimensions involved with Team GB, but everything was done as it should be," Villas-Boas said. "It was approved by the FA doctors regarding his injury, so for me it is the end of story.
"[Blatter] has decided to speak, maybe not knowing the full extent of the situation. They are unfortunate comments, but I can't make any more comment because he is the FIFA president."

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Oscar eager to trash for Blues challenge

Oscar has spoken of securing his "dream" move to Chelsea, with the 20-year-old prepared to do whatever is required to force his way into Roberto Di Matteo's plans.
Chelsea wrapped up a £25 million deal with Internacional for Oscar shortly before he kicked off his Olympic quest with Brazil.

Despite the hype and price tag, Oscar faces no easy task in forcing his way into the first-team line-up, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Marko Marin, Oriol Romeu and John Obi Mikel all vying for places..
However, Oscar has shown himself to be an adaptable player and is happy to take on whatever role Di Matteo requires.
"This is a dream for me," he said. "After the Olympics I am going to talk to the manager. I am ready to do whatever the manager wants me to do. For Internacional I played in several different positions, so I have no problem adapting."
Oscar is determined to help Chelsea build on their Champions League success with a push for more honours. He added: "I'm joining Chelsea hopefully to win more titles.
"The project is very exciting, especially with the young players that they are signing. The offer was very good for me and I didn't have to think twice about signing."

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Spurs awaiting improved Modric bid

Andre Villas-Boas insists Tottenham have received no further bids for Luka Modric as the club stand firm on their £40 million valuation of the midfielder.
ESPN understands Real Madrid are preparing a £33 million bid for Croatia international Modric, but Villas-Boas insists there have been no further offers at this point.
Modric, who has made no secret of his desire to leave White Hart Lane, has not travelled with Spurs on their pre-season tour of the United States, but while Tottenham have said they will not stand in Modric's way if he wants to leave, they are holding out for their asking price..
"There is no news at the moment," Villas-Boas said ahead of Tottenham's pre-season friendly against Liverpool in Baltimore. "The player is training in London. There have been no further bids, no improved bids. The value hasn't been met for what we think is correct.
"We have a big squad and we are fielded in most of the positions, so we just have to wait and see how that deal goes or doesn't go. If the player eventually stays, he is a player of fantastic talent for us and will certainly add to our squad."
Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is believed to be looking to ease tensions with Tottenham and, when asked about Modric on Friday, he offered a diplomatic response. "I don't talk about players from other clubs," he said.

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Koscielny rejected Barcelona to sign new Arsenal deal

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has revealed that he rejected any interest from Barcelona to sign a new five-year deal with the club.
The 26-year-old arrived at the north London side from Ligue 1 club Lorient in 2010 and came under criticism for his performances.
Last season saw the France international become one of the club's outstanding defenders and despite interest from the Catalan giants, he wants to remain under the guidance of manager Arsene Wenger.
When asked if he knew about interest from Barcelona, Koscielny told L'Equipe: "Yes of course and frankly it is flattering..
"But at Arsenal I have everything; I have a great training centre, a wonderful stadium and an amazing group.
"I am so happy to have signed a new contract until 2017. It means a lot, notably that the club has a lot of trust in me.
The Frenchman also stated that his ambition is to emulate the success that other French players that were at the club before him.
"I really want to grow here as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and some others did,” Koscielny added.

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Mourinho: I do not know if Kaka will leave for AC Milan

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that he does not know if Kaka will still be at the Santiago Bernabeu come the start of the season.
The attacking midfielder's agent recently revealed that he was in talks with AC Milan over a possible return to San Siro.
However, the fee and the player's wage demands represent significant stumbling blocks, and Mourinho has explained that it is too early to tell if the proposed deal will go through, and only stated that Kaka will feature in Friday night's friendly against Benfica..
"He's going to play for 45 to 60 minutes, but I understand that you want to know if he is staying," the Portuguese told reporters at a press conference on Friday. "I do not know and neither do the club nor the player.
"But there is no doubt between us [Mourinho and Kaka]: he knows what I think and I know what he wants.
"The market is open until August 31 and a lot can happen until then. But as long as he's a Madrid player, he will train with the first team and play with us.
"He will travel to the United States [for the club's pre-season tour] and if he stays, I'll be delighted, because we can still do things together."
While Mourinho gave very little away regarding Kaka's future, he was at least prepared to discuss the topic. However, he refused to be drawn at all on Madrid's pursuit of Luka Modric, declaring: "I do not talk about players from other clubs."
The former Chelsea boss was more forthcoming when it came to discussing reports that Nuri Sahin is on the verge of a loan move to England, but admitted all the same that he has already grown weary of the constant speculation surrounding Madrid's transfer dealings.
"I do not like this market that will last until August 31," the two-time Champions League winner confessed. "It allows room for many questions. Not among us [the staff and the players], but among journalists.
"I want 20 players, not including goalkeepers, and to leave a door open for the youngsters. So, someone has to leave.
"I try to be honest and they know who they are. Nuri is living in a grey area, neither black nor white. But if there is an interesting possibility to play elsewhere, he would be better off leaving because we saw last year that he did not get many minutes here."
Mourinho arrived in the Spanish capital during the summer of 2010, fresh from his treble-winning campaign with Serie A giants Inter.

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QPR complete Hoilett signing

Former Blackburn star Junior Hoilett has joined QPR in a widely-anticipated move for which the fee will be decided by a compensation tribunal.
Hoilett, 22, who opted not to sign a new deal with the troubled Ewood Park club after their relegation to the Championship, has agreed a four-year deal to become the seventh signing of a busy summer at Loftus Road.
The Canadian international midfielder's form was one of the few bright spots for Blackburn last season. He scored seven goals in a campaign that proved difficult for Blackburn both on and off the pitch, and Rovers manager Steve Kean had appeared resigned to losing him..
QPR boss Mark Hughes - a former Blackburn boss - told the club's official website: "Junior is a player I know very well. He was just a young boy trying to make his way in the game when I had him at Blackburn. I had him training with the first team early on because his talent was there for all to see.
"We knew then he was going to have a great future, and he's certainly shown that talent over the last few seasons at Ewood Park.
"He's a player of top quality and a player that can make things happen, both on his own and as a team player, and I am delighted he's chosen to come to us."
Hoilett said he felt Rangers were a club that "are certainly heading in the right direction", adding: "The ambition to take this club to the next level was something I really wanted to be part of.
"The manager and the owners have huge ambitions to achieve things here, and this is the perfect place for me to further my career.
"I have not achieved anything yet. I am still at the early stages of my career and have a lot to learn. I'm really happy to be here, and can't wait to pull on the Rangers shirt."
Under FIFA rules, Rovers are entitled to compensation for the Canadian-born forward, who joined their academy at the age of 13, and Kean has cited the case that saw Daniel Sturridge leave Manchester City for Chelsea in 2009, reportedly for around £6 million.
He said: "I don't know what the figure was for Daniel Sturridge, but I know it was a chunky figure. We have had Junior a long time, we have put a lot of time and effort in him, and I'm sure that will be reflected in the price."

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If Capello's task as England manager was tough, then the Russia job will be near impossible

When the Russian Football Union (RFU) published its list of 13 candidates for the post of new national team coach, its announcement was met by near-unanimous bemusement. Whilst it had been widely anticipated that the union was due to release a shortlist, it was at least expected to be, well, short.

The draft, as it turned out, was an eclectic one: Rafa Benitez, Marcelo Bielsa, Anatoly Byshovets, Valery Gazzaev, Pep Guardiola, Fabio Capello, Andrey Kobelev, Yury Krasnozhan, Marcello Lippi, Valery Nepomnyashchy, Nikolay Pisarev, Harry Redknapp and Yury Semin.
The immediate feeling was just how diverse it was: pragmatists alongside purists, extroverts next to introverts. The list read like an admission from the RFU that it simply did not have a clue what type of coach to plump for..
Gazzaev, the former CSKA coach who was considered amongst the favourites for the role, was unequivocal in his view of the situation. “Imagine how they are laughing at us in Europe,” he said. “I feel very uncomfortable for myself and the well-known people mentioned on the list, which was posted only to cause unneeded controversy.”
Gazzaev’s candid attack would normally render him out of the running, but his comments were so representative of the overall zeitgeist that he remained a leading candidate.
Sovetsky Sport columnist Evgeny Lovchev was even less sympathetic. “There are two scenarios about the appearance of the list of 13,” he said. “The first version is that they lie to us once again as they traditionally do, treating the fans as fools. The second version is that the list on RFU’s website was put together by a mad [drunk] man. Respected coaches won’t go to this circus, chaos and psychiatric hospital.”
Such clumsy PR would cause controversy in most countries. But Russia’s current circumstances make the need for the correct appointment all the more pressing.

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Robben not the type of player to make sacrifices, says Van der Wiel

Oranje went into the tournament as one of the favourites to emerge victorious in Poland and Ukraine, but crashed out in the group stages after losses against Denmark, Germany and Portugal.

In-fighting within the Dutch camp further compounded the misery and led to the dismissal of Bert van Marwijk as coach. Now, Van der Wiel has come out and admitted that he was not impressed by Robben's contributions to the team..
"If you give Arjen the ball and he has two opponents in front of him, he'll still try and get past them," the Ajax defender stated to NUsport. "He's not the type of player to sacrifice himself for the wing-back and cut inside to create space for me, or tracks back to help me out when I'm dealing with two opponents.
"I was the one sacrificing myself for Arjen, and that's not something I'm used to. I prefer to do things together, both defending and attacking. It was a bit frustrating how things went."
Nevertheless, Van der Wiel is adamant that he can still co-exist with the Bayern star on the pitch.
"I know that we can play together and that he can be decisive for us. Things simply didn't work out for the entire team. It was completely different than at the World Cup."
Netherlands made it to the final of the 2010 World Cup, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain after extra time.

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Southampton wrap up Clyne move

Southampton have completed the signing of Crystal Palace defender Nathaniel Clyne, paying compensation believed to be around £2.5 million to the Championship club.
Full-back Clyne, who came through the ranks at Selhurst Park and made 193 appearances, agreed a four-year deal with the newly-promoted Saints last week. The clubs have now agreed a compensation fee for the 21-year-old..
The England Under-21 international played for Southampton in last weekend's 1-0 friendly win against Evian, and Saints boss Nigel Adkins said: "Nathaniel has done very well.
"He only had one training session before he joined us, so we're upping the game with him in a way that will make sure he doesn't break down."
Under FIFA rules, Southampton were obliged to pay a compensation fee because of Clyne's age.
"We are very pleased to have worked constructively with Southampton to conclude the deal before it went to a tribunal,'' the Palace co-chairman Steve Parish said.

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Thierry Henry shows Arsenal what they're missing to top the charts

GOAL OF THE WEEK

1 THIERRY HENRY NY RED BULLS VS CHICAGO 80.00%
2 OSCAR CARDOZO SLASK WROCLAW VS BENFICA 9.10%
3 DANILO FLAMENGO VS CORINTHIANS 6.90%
4 CAO YUNDING GUANGZHOU R&F VS SHANGHAI SHENUA 2.2%
5 WALLACE FLUMINESE VS BAHIA 1.8%
Thierry Henry is back to grace the Goal Show once again, and is the winner of Goal of the Week..
The former Arsenal striker had been waiting since April to find the back of the net but what a way to end a goal drought. Showing exquisite control and a deft finish, the Frenchman displayed why he's the most feared forward in the MLS.
In second spot, we have Benfica forward Oscar Cardozo, following his neat finish against Polish champions Slask Wroclaw.

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Neymar, Hulk, Oscar, & Damiao may be the best Olympic attack

The signs were there from the off. Egypt started in an unexpectedly positive fashion, pushing Brazil back and catching them unaware with Juan easily allowing Mohamed El-Nenny the first shot at goal. But after a rocky opening few minutes, Mano Menezes' side soon burst to life and showed the full extent of their attacking prowess with three goals before the break. Oscar appeared to be everywhere as he carved through the Egyptian defence with his coruscating dribbling and accurate passing, while Hulk's power and directness, as well as an impressive crossing game, gave Brazil a physical edge.
The second half, however, was a different story as Juan and Marcelo were the chief culprits in a number of defensive lapses that almost cost the Selecao the three points. The young Inter defender seemed completely oblivious to the action at times and forced Thiago Silva to watch his back regularly throughout.
The lack of defensive cohesion is most visible when Menezes' side try to defend set pieces. It was evident in last month's friendly against Argentina and it reared its head again as poor marking enabled Mohamed Aboutrika to lash a loose ball home after Eslam Ramadan's free kick..
Marcelo's defensive contribution has always been debatable and he had a similarly disappointing display, akin to his performance in the 2-0 defeat against Mexico last month. His sloppy header almost gifted Mohamed Salah a goal, but Egypt would get their second and once more Juan was culpable. The 21-year-old stepped out and misjudged an attempted interception, allowing Basel forward Salah the chance to exploit the space in behind and bend a shot past Neto.
Brazil have a tendency to step off the gas when they open up a lead and it was no different against Egypt. As the influence of the South American's front four waned drastically in the second half, it offered the platform for their weak defence to come under pressure. It is a bad habit, particularly when defending is not the side's strongest suit.
But the Selecao could have taken a a more solid defensive line-up to the Games. Menezes could have picked Rafael Toloi or Manoel, both of whom are under 23-years-old, or even taken David Luiz or Dede as one of his over-age players. Yes, it may have cost either Hulk or Marcelo a spot in the squad, but depth in their positions is stronger than that of the current options at centre-back. Toloi and Manoel have been playing regularly at club level, Juan and Bruno Uvini have not. However, the decision to start Rafael da Silva ahead of Danilo has provided extra stability down the right side.
While Brazil may possess the most diverse and exhilarating attack in the tournament, something which gives them a greater ability to break teams down unlike Spain against Japan, a leaky defence is a huge problem. The loss of Rafael Cabral to injury will have hit the team hard and now having to play in front of a new keeper makes it all the more difficult. They may have still picked up the important three points, but Menezes must attempt to address this issue or the best attacking side in the tournament could well miss out on their first-ever Olympic gold medal.

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Gerrard: We will finish top four

Steven Gerrard also skippered the England team at Euro 2012 this summer
Gerrard, who was also full of praise for new manager Brendan Rodgers, believes Liverpool cannot find themselves languishing down in eighth place again this term and must make sure they return to Europe's elite for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.
Rodgers is expected to bring a more attacking style to Liverpool this season which excites Gerrard, and he hopes the club will no longer find themselves frustrated by the opposition - an issue which led to the Reds drawing more home games than any other side in the Premier League last season..
"We'll see a bolder Liverpool team - and more exciting too," Gerrard is quoted as saying by the Sun. "It's not just been these last few days that I've had a chance to learn about the new manager, he's been in touch with me since he came in.
"He has made me aware of where he's at and what he's trying to do - I've been really impressed with him. His man-management is fantastic and if he can do that with all the players in the squad, then it can be really good for the club.
"I don't think a team has ever gone from eighth to first. But there's still other big targets for us to achieve short-term and that's getting in that top four again - that's the priority. And if you perform hard enough and well enough, it will come. That is the only way you get it and I am confident we will.
"But the other players have got to think how I think and use the hurt of what happened to make up for it. That is the only way you can do it. I honestly think we will get in the top four because if we play like we did in a lot of games last season and take our chances, we will be high up the table.
"The idea is to improve and have some fun along the way in the cup competitions, like we did last year. We were brilliant at times in the league too, it's just we never got out of them what we deserved. But there were times you would come off thinking 'no wonder we are sixth, seventh and eighth'.
"It was frustrating but if you look at the season, you can't use it as an excuse for finishing eighth. It wasn't good enough. Over the years sometimes Liverpool have come up against a certain type of opposition and shown them too much respect. But maybe we have had to, because of the style we've been asked to play.
"There were times under previous managers when we showed too much respect, but Brendan wants us to play like a big team. He's been coaching for 20 years and dealing with big players. I've been impressed with his knowledge and how he's dealt with me. The players who have worked with him over the past few weeks have said the same."
"There is a lot of hard work to be done sharpish. But already in training, in only my second session, we are doing team shape and he is telling players what he expects movement wise.
"We are Liverpool, we can't finish eighth. We have to put that right."

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Vermaelen: We'll compete for everything

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has said he believes the club is "good enough to compete for everything" next season.
he Belgium international said that although the Gunners have faced criticism and are currently embroiled in a transfer saga surrounding skipper and top scorer Robin van Persie, they will challenge for honours if key players stay fit.
Speaking during the club's pre-season tour of the Far East - which van Persie has not joined - Vermaelen, who signed a new Emirates contract last year, said he was proud to play for them.
"When I was young I watched Arsenal a lot, and you could see the way they played was really attractive," he said.
"I love the way we play, and it means I can play as well. It's not only about defending and heading and tackling. I enjoy defending, but I like to play as well.
"It's easy to give a long ball from the back, but it doesn't give you any choice. It's better to build up and show a bit of your technique as well. I like the vision of Arsenal."
Vermaelen said the club's "aims this season should be the same as ever" - to win things - and added: "I know people are criticising Arsenal, but our main target is to keep everybody fit. If we do that, I'm really confident our team is good enough to compete for everything."
He predicted that his compatriot Eden Hazard, who joined Chelsea earlier this summer, would be a success in the Premier League and compared his style to that of Lionel Messi. "Eden is a really talented player," he said. "Technically, he is very good. He is quick with the ball. He's a little bit like the way Messi plays. He's small with a low centre of gravity and has some good tricks..
"He has exceptional qualities. It is not easy to show that every week at a high level, but he will show his quality to the fans at Chelsea. He will do well."
But he said the biggest spenders would not necessarily win the trophies, emphasising that a vision such as Wenger's could be equally important - despite the Gunners' seven years without silverware.
"Money can do a lot in football, but it doesn't mean you can win prizes all the time," he said. "City did it last year. Chelsea did it in the beginning as well, but not all the time. They didn't win it every year, and they didn't win the Champions League until last year. 'I don't think money can make sure you win trophies. Your vision is really important as well."

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Juventus cool Van Persie interest

Juventus have cooled their interest in signing Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie, having at one stage appeared favourites to secure the Dutchman's signature.
As the transfer saga surrounding 28-year-old Van Persie took another twist, Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta said: "Talk of our real interest in him seems excessive to me."
Arsenal are believed to want more than £20 million for Van Persie, who earlier this month said he would not be signing a new contract at the Emirates. He has also been linked with both Manchester United and Premier League champions Manchester City..
"A top player is not only judged by how much he costs," Marotta told Sky Sports Italia. "It can also mean a player who costs less but, on the pitch, shows an absolute value.
"Van Persie is a great player, but Arsenal do not intend to lose him. And you cannot indulge in a player if the owners don't [want to sell]. Talk of our real interest in him seems excessive to me."
On Thursday, the Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood underlined the club's determination not to let Van Persie leave on the cheap.
He said he was "mystified" by the striker's desire to leave the North London club, adding: "To be honest, I do not understand him at all. I understood Cesc Fabregas wanting to go home to Barcelona last summer. I had sympathy with that. But I thought Robin was happy at Arsenal, especially after the season he had with us.
"He is a world-class player and we don't want to give him away. If he is determined to leave, that is up to him - but giving him away is not on our agenda.
And Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "He has one year left and is in demand - but our desire is to keep him. He is a world-class striker and I am a big supporter of him. I have supported him through his whole career."

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French Football Federation hands Nasri three-match ban

The Manchester City attacking midfielder's team-mate Jeremy Menez has been suspended for one game over his own ill-discipline in Poland and Ukraine, but Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M'Vila have escaped with warnings over their future conduct.
Nasri, the subject of much media criticism in the lead-up to the European Championship, first sparked controversy when he made straight for the touchline after scoring in France's tournament opener against England and shouted obscenities at the press box..
The former Arsenal man was then involved in an angry exchange with a journalist after the quarter-final defeat by Spain, during which Nasri challenged the reporter to a fight.
Meanwhile, Menez, who was unable to attend Friday's FFF disciplinary hearing because he is currently on a pre-season tour of the United States with Paris Saint-Germain, was disciplined after being found to have insulted the referee after the 2-0 defeat by La Roja, before the shunning captain Hugo Lloris.
Ben Arfa, though, has not been punished over his dressing-room dispute with then boss Laurent Blanc after defeat by Sweden, while M'Vila has also avoided sanction over his refusal to shake the hand of either replacement Olivier Giroud or Blanc following his substitution in the lossto Spain.

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Henry open to Arsenal return

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry is not ruling out the possibility returning to Arsenal again in January.
Thierry Henry scored two goals during his loan at Arsenal
Henry, 34, spent time training with Arsenal during the off season of the MLS last winter before agreeing a short-term loan agreement in January with the club he left for Barcelona in 2007.
The Frenchman scored twice during his loan spell, his first of those strikes on his comeback match in the FA Cup against Leeds, and he has admitted he sees his future back at Emirates Stadium..
Henry said in the Sun: "I would like to go back to England with Arsenal for sure. I wasn't planning to go back to play last season. It was only because Gervinho and [Marouane] Chamakh went to the African Nations Cup.
"I was there to train and they asked me if I wanted to play. Who knows what might happen in the future? I've not yet spoken to Arsene about it so I don't know what capacity I could go back in.
"Coaching does interest me but I don't know what my talent is going to be after I have finished my career. But I will go back to Arsenal."

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Chelsea seal Oscar deal

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Internacional playmaker Oscar for a reported fee of around £25 million.
Oscar has moved to the Premier League
Oscar, 20, has been attracting the attention of Europe's major clubs after some impressive performances for Brazil and has become the Blues' latest recruit - alongside Eden Hazard and Marko Marin - as they look to assert more dominance in the Premier League this season..
A statement on the Chelsea website read: "Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Oscar."
The midfielder, full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, is part of Brazil's squad for London 2012 and played in the 2-0 warm-up victory over Team GB last Friday.
The move marks a stunning rise in his young career as his senior Brazil debut arrived only in September last year when he came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Argentina, and he has scored once in six caps.

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Barcelona sign Sporting Lisbon duo Agostinho Ca & Edgar Ie

The 18-year-old Agostinho Ca was born in Guinea-Bissau, but has represented Portugal at under-age level. The midfielder was part of the Portugal Under-19 team that featured at this summer's European Championship.
Agostinho Ca started his professional career with Oeiras, but joined the Sporting youth academy in the summer of 2009..
Edgar Ie, born in 1994, also joined the Lisbon giants from Oeiras, and has been capped for Portugal at Under-19 level. The defender, who is a natural right-back who can also feature at centre-back, missed this summer's European Championship due to a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his left foot.
The two hot prospects will start their Blaugrana careers with the B team.

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Neymar disappointed by Beckham snub

Brazil star Neymar has expressed his sadness that David Beckham will not be competing at the London 2012 Olympics.
Neymar, who is in England preparing for the Games, says he had hoped a line up opposite Beckham to one day tell his children of the experience. However, the Santos striker believes Beckham's absence will also benefit Brazil as they aim to win their first gold medal in men's football..
"When Beckham was not selected I was a little happy and a little sad," Neymar told the Telegraph newspaper. "I was happy because he will not be competing against us so it is a little less complicated for us.
"But I was sad because he is a great player, so I would have liked to have played against him one time. It would have been something I could have told my children."
Brazil will face Egypt before taking on Great Britain at the Olympics, and while Neymar admits he knows little of Egyptian football, he insists nothing less than success will be tolerated by the Brazilian public.
"There is a great expectation at home for us to win the gold medal," he said. "It is very important because we have never won Olympic gold before so now we have a chance to make history.
"I don't know much about [Egypt] because I have never played against them, but some of my team-mates have, and they say Egypt have lots of quality.
"But our coach Mano Menezes will give us all the information we need about it and I am sure we will have a good match. Winning this tournament would show that we are on the right track for winning the 2014 World Cup."
Meanwhile, Neymar has backed team-mate Oscar - who has been linked with a £25 million move to Chelsea - to star should he move to England this summer.
"He is one of the most intelligent players I have played with," he said. "He has everything to be a big success."

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Man Utd stay top of Forbes list

Earlier this month, the club applied to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as the Glazer family seeks to raise $100 million (£64 million) to reduce a debt level that, the application noted, "could adversely affect our financial health and competitive position".
United were valued at £1.43 billion in the latest Forbes top 50, down from £1.65 billion in the 2011 list, but were still rated 19% more valuable than their closest rivals, Real Madrid..
All 32 NFL franchises made the top 50 list, with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New England Patriots and Super Bowl champions New York Giants all securing spots in the top ten.
The Forbes top 50 included seven football teams, with Arsenal falling three places to tenth and Barcelona up 18 to eighth.
The Forbes Top Ten:
1 Manchester United - £1.43bn
2 Real Madrid - £1.20bn
3= NY Yankees - £1.18bn
3= Dallas Cowboys - £1.18bn
5 Washington Redskins - £1bn
6= LA Dodgers - £895m
6= NE Patriots - £895m
8 Barcelona - £838m
9 New York Giants - £831m
10 Arsenal - £825m

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Figo: Cristiano Ronaldo can win the Ballon d'Or

The 27-year-old attacker has been tipped to win the prestigious individual accolade after scoring an impressive 60 goals in all competitions last season, helping Los Blancos to their first La Liga title since 2008..
Figo thinks that Ronaldo deserves to win the award, which Barcelona star Lionel Messi has claimed on three consecutive occasions since 2009, but pointed out that the deserving candidate cannot always be successful.
"Ronaldo matches all the criteria to win the Ballon d'Or for everything he did last season, but these choices are always subjective, because some 100 people will vote," Figo told reporters.
"However, it is clear that Ronaldo had a wonderful season."
Ronaldo is expected to join up with the rest of the Madrid squad only at the end of the July, as he is currently holidaying in Thailand after representing the Seleccaoat Euro 2012.

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Ferguson relaxed over Berbatov future

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would be happy for Dimitar Berbatov to stay at Manchester United but is open to the striker departing the club this summer.

Agent: Berbatov keen on Milan

Berbatov has most recently been linked with AC Milan, who have sold star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Bulgarian made his desire to leave Old Trafford known after his playing time was reduced last season, as he slipped behind Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez in the pecking order.
"I do not need to herald the abilities of Dimitar Berbatov, he is a fantastic talent," said Ferguson. "Last season he didn't quite get the amount of football he wants. At his age, it was difficult for him to accept his position in the forward line..

"He had Rooney, Welbeck and Hernandez in front of him, and they are all young men. The boy has a future, but if he wants to leave it is a different matter.
"I am easy about it if he stays. I would be happy with that. But if someone comes in and Dimitar wants to leave, we will assess it."
Berbatov featured for United in an advanced midfield role in 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Durban on Wednesday evening, setting up the only goal for Federico Macheda in an unconvincing victory.

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Ibrahimovic tops the list as most expensive player of all time

Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed his much-anticipated move to Paris Saint-Germain from AC Milan this afternoon, with the reported transfer fee of €23 million reaffirming his position as the most expensive player of all time.

The total money spent on the Swede over the course of his career now totals €171.1m, further cementing himself as the footballer to have attracted the biggest fees over the course of his career. He beats Nicolas Anelka - another player previously signed for big money by PSG - into second place, with the Frenchman costing a total of €134m, and Hernan Crespo, who attracted €121m worth of spending, into third.
Ibrahimovic's €171.1m includes the €16m Juventus spent on him at Ajax, the €24.8m Inter paid Juve, the whopping €69.5m total Barcelona splashed out, as well as the €24m AC Milan used up.
As Paris Saint-Germain continue to bleed Serie A dry of its biggest names, Zlatan has joined his former AC Milan team-mate Thiago Silva, along with the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and ex-Palermo star Javier Pastore by moving to France..
The imposing striker's move comes at a huge cost to the Qatari-owned club, with his transfer fee complimenting an astronomical wage packet. Reports suggest that the player will be paid €13m per year by the Parisian outfit. TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE
PLAYERS OF ALL TIME
PLAYER
1. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
2. NICOLAS ANELKA
3. HERNAN CRESPO
4. JUAN VERON
5. CRISTIANO RONALDO
6. RONALDO
7. FERNANDO TORRES
8. CHRISTIAN VIERI
9. ROBINHO
10. ZINEDINE ZIDANE FEE
AMOUNT
€171.1m
€134.0m
€121.0m
€117.0m
€111.5m
€100.9m
€96.5m
€87.5m
€85m
€84m
The technically-gifted Swede inspires equal amounts of love and hate in the world of football, as his seemingly nonchalant attitude is often perceived as laziness, while his poor record against English sides (apart from Arsenal), has also seen him attract criticism.
Whatever your opinion of the striker, you cannot argue with his success. If you ignore that the Calciopoli scandal stripped Juventus of their two Serie A wins in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, before last season Zlatan had won eight consecutive league titles over the course of his spells at Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan.
Below, we consider how effective some of the other most expensive players of all time have been.
Cristiano Ronaldo
ristiano Ronaldo ranks at number five, but has only moved on two occasions, from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United, then from United to Real Madrid in 2009. The Portuguese attacker was fantastic at Old Trafford, but has risen to another level since his move to Madrid, scoring 146 goals in 144 appearances in his first three seasons at the club. While some raised eyebrows at the €94m paid to take the superstar to Madrid, his performances since have more than justified that pricetag.
Nicolas Anelka
Football's number one mercenary is number two on the list of most expensive players ever, having totalled transfer fees of just over €134m during a career that has included stints at nine clubs, the latest of which is Shanghai Shenhua in China. Anelka looked set to become one of the best strikers in the world when he lit up the Premier League as a teenager at Arsenal, and even though he has scored a lot of goals for a medley of clubs since, he never quite reached the heights people expected of him.
Juan Sebastian Veron
The Argentine midfielder was influential during his time in Italy at first Sampdoria, then Parma and Lazio (as well as Inter in a later loan spell). In 2000, he was the driving force behind the brilliant Lazio team that won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia, and the Italian Super Cup.
That form earned him a move to Manchester United in 2001, with Sir Alex Ferguson purchasing the player for €42.6m in what was the most expensive transfer in English football at that time. After two fairly indifferent seasons at Old Trafford, Veron moved to Chelsea for €22.5m, but managed just 14 appearances during the 2003-04 campaign, thereby marking the end of a disastrous spell in the Premier League.
Success at his spiritual home back in Argentina, Estudiantes, has revived his career, but sadly many will remember the talented central midfielder for his failure at Manchester United and Chelsea.
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