December 22nd, 2009
07:00 PM ET

How long can Liverpool keep faith with Rafa?














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Filed under:  Football
November 26th, 2009
10:55 PM ET

Is Rafael Nadal a spent force?


Can Rafael Nadal ever return to his former heights again?
Can Rafael Nadal ever return to his former heights again?













The acid test will be Roland Garros 2010.

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Filed under:  Tennis
October 26th, 2009
09:26 PM ET

Rossi and Loeb prove their superiority

By one of those strange coincidences that happen so often in sport, both Valentino Rossi and Sebastien Loeb wrapped up their respective world titles on the same day, making no mistake with the sort of assured performances which have marked their remarkable careers.

Rossi celebrates completing the ninth world title victory of his career.
Rossi celebrates completing the ninth world title victory of his career.

MotoGP ace Rossi was winning his seventh title in motorcycling's premier class and his second in succession, Loeb made it sixth straight world rallying crowns, an all-time record.

Both had to endure significant challenges during the course of the season, Loeb from Ford Focus ace Mikko Hirvonen, Rossi from his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

And both showed their incredible winning mentality when it mattered the most, with Loeb having to relegate Hirvonen to second place in the season-ending Wales Rally GB to leapfrog the Finn in the final standings.

Rossi wrapped up his title with a race to spare, needing to finish fourth in Sepang to clinch it, he claimed the final podium spot behind Australian Casey Stoner, keepng Lorenzo one place behind him.

It is a feature of great champions that when the question is asked they come up with the answer and both Rossi and Loeb have solved puzzles a plenty to stay at the top.

But are they the greatest of all-time in their respective sports ?

Statistically, Loeb has few peers, with his 54 wins a world rally record, but questions have to be asked about the overall competitiveness of the championship in recent years with this year's title race effectively a two-horse race between the Citroen and Ford teams.

Rallying fans may well point to the merits of the great Finns Tommi Makinen, Juha Kankunen and Marcus Gronholm while Spain's Carlos Sainz had few peers. Throw into the mix the late and much-missed flying Scot Colin McRae and there is room for much-debate.

Who do you think is the greatest rally driver of all time ?

In the same vein, Rossi has been a winning machine with nine world championships from 125 cc to MotoGP, but his fellow-Italian Giacomo Agostini is the all-time record holder with 122 grand prix wins and 15 world championships.

Australian Mick Doohan won five successive world 500cc championships and was totally dominant in the 1990s, while flamboyant British ace Mike Hailwood
won world titles and TT races on the Isle of Man at will during his incredible career.

So who is the ultimate maestro on two wheels ?

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Filed under:  Motorsport
October 21st, 2009
06:24 PM ET

Benitez only has himself to blame

















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Filed under:  Football
May 30th, 2009
04:26 PM ET

The magic of the FA Cup lives on

WEMBLEY, England - The expectant walk up Wembley Way. A sea of blue. Goosebumps on the neck as "Abide with Me" rings round the stadium. 

The magic of the FA Cup lives on and in prospect a David v Goliath clash which reflects the new realities of football.

Everton, fifth in the Premier League, take on Chelsea, just two places above them, but worlds apart in terms of resources and expectation.

Everton so short of players mid-season that they play for a while without a recognized striker with the invaluable Tim Cahill filling in admirably.

Chelsea, who could afford to leave Didier Drogba sulking on the sidelines until the arrival of Guus Hiddink re-energized the team.

Both he and Nicolas Anelka set to form a formidable partnership up front as Chelsea bid to shrug off the disappointments of losing out so narrowly to Barcelona in the Champions League, no disgrace there on reflection.

Everton chasing a first trophy under David Moyes and so deservedly in the final having beaten Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United on the way to the Wembley showpiece.

It's not quite second-flight Sunderland upsetting all-conquering but unloved Leeds in 1973, or Wimbledon's Crazy Gang coming out on top against Liverpool, but an Everton victory would be still be against the odds.

The club's chiefs could not be more different. Everton's Bill Kenwright a theatrical impressario with a shrewd eye for a hit, in this case Moyes. Chelsea's Roman Abramovich a Russian billionaire with a ruthless streak who has dispatched Mourinho, Grant and Scolari and temporarily settled on Hiddink.

FA Cup victory for Abramovich would represent a morsel of consolation, for Kenwright it would be a full scale banquet.

But the FA Cup is no respecter of reputations and when the underdogs scored after just 25 seconds through Louis Saha's emphatic volley it was clear that Chelsea would have to work for their victory. 

The noise from the Everton fans reached a crescendo, but before long they were silenced as Florent Malouda crossed for Drogba to head home.

Poor Tony Hibbert was suffering from twisted blood syndrome on the left as he tried to cope with Malouda and was unceremoniously hauled off at half time to be replaced by little-known Dane Lars Jacobsen.

But the Chelsea second half substitution spelt out the gulf in quality in the two squads as German captain Michael Ballack replaced Ghana powerhouse Michael Essien.

Saha might have put the Toffees ahead for the second time but his header was over and soon afterwards Frank Lampard drove the winner past Tim Howard.

Malouda, who I thought should have been man of the match ahead of Ashley Cole, could have finished the game off with two more close efforts, the second possibly crossing the line off the underside of the crossbar (further proof if any needed for TV cameras to decide these close calls).

It was impossible not to feel sympathy for Everton and their fanatical fans, but Hiddink has worked his magic again, inspiring an underperforming big-name squad to step up to the plate.

It was no surprise that the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the Dutchman as he lifted the trophy.

What price Abramovich making him an offer he can't refuse to stay on at Stamford Bridge next season ?

While for teams like Everton, the FA Cup offers the best hope of silverware, aka Portsmouth in 2008, and that's why it's such a favorite with supporters and the players too, who for all their mega salaries and inflated egos just want to get their hands on a piece of history.

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Filed under:  Football
January 29th, 2009
09:32 AM ET

Ravenous Real Madrid still hungry to buy

Stay up to date with all the comings and goings in the transfer window with's daily wrap of the latest rumors and gossip from Europe's sports pages.

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is said to be Real Madrid's main target.
Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is said to be Real Madrid's main target.








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Filed under:  Football
January 28th, 2009
11:46 AM ET

Beckham 'dreams' of Milan move


LONDON, England (CNN) – All the dancing, rumors, subterfuge, lies and (very) occasional actual transfers come to an end in but a few days time. But there's still time for a last minute flurry of activity with most of the juiciest action taking place at Manchester City and AC Milan.

First to Milan where attempts to sign David Beckham on a permanent deal are gathering pace. After announcing their interest in signing the midfielder earlier in the week, Sky Sports is reporting that AC Milan's vice chairman Adriano Galliani is deep in fractious negotiations with an unhappy LA Galaxy, warning that if no deal is struck this weekend then it never will.

"If Galaxy change ideas with Beckham then we will evaluate the situation and we will keep him," he said. "The player wants to stay with us, but he knows he has to return."

Even the Englishman has decided to get off the fence telling Il Corriere Della Sera that it would be "a dream" to move to the city full time. Still, Milan's football shirt manufacturers should be putting those bumper Beckham replica shirt orders on ice for a few days, just in case.

What do you think about the Beckham transfer saga?  Tell us on Football Fanzone.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport has had its hands full reporting on all the other (non-Beckham) transfer activity going on in Serie A. Cash rich UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg have put in a €10million bid for Juve's talented forward Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Which may add more grist to yesterday's frankly ludicrous transfer mill that West Ham United's in form striker Carlton Cole could be a target for The Old Lady. Their manager Claudio Ranieri used to coach Cole at Chelsea. It can't possibly be true, can it?

Over at Middle Eastlands this week's ongoing transfer saga revolves around Newcastle United's want away goalkeeper Shay Given who, The Times reports, is angry that a deal between the two clubs cannot be made. Oddly, Manchester City seem to be getting shy about throwing around their cash.

Initially the club offered just £3 (€3.24) million before making a final £5 (€5.39) million take-it-or-leave-it bid, far less than the £10 (€10.78) million originally mooted in the press. Which is quite frankly a derisory sum given that (a) Given is arguably currently the form goalkeeper in Europe and (b) Sunderland's Craig Gordon cost £9 (€9.71) million. £9MILLION! Still CNN can only thank Manchester City for their continued ability to stir controversy. Without them we'd have nothing to write about.

Elsewhere one of Europe's great enigmas might be moving to the Premiership after being linked with over a dozen clubs during every single transfer window over the past half decade. The Argentine striker Javier Saviola was (rightly) lauded as a potential world beater but poor form, perceived indifference and an inability to hold down a regular starting place at both Barcelona and Real Madrid has seen his stock fall faster than a suicidal Wall Street trader.

In fact, it has fallen so far that he is apparently considering a move to Portsmouth, according to The Express. But if you happen to be reading Marca, they insist that the current Real Madrid forward may well be used as a makeweight in the deal to take Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia to the Bernabeu. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place...

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Filed under:  Football
January 26th, 2009
11:21 AM ET

Keane on the way out?

Stay up to date with all the comings and goings in the transfer window with’s daily wrap of the latest rumors and gossip from Europe’s sports pages.

Is Robbie Keane ready to leave Liverpool?
Is Robbie Keane ready to leave Liverpool?










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Filed under:  Football
January 23rd, 2009
01:21 PM ET

Beckham in Italy for long haul?


Having fun? Is David Beckham considering staying with AC Milan?
Having fun? Is David Beckham considering staying with AC Milan?











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Filed under:  Football
January 22nd, 2009
10:21 AM ET

Drogba in, Robinho out?


LONDON, England – The ripples from Kaka's rejection of Manchester City's advances continue to travel far and wide, with the world's media chewing over the detritus of the deal.

Didier Drogba: Set to become a City gent?
Didier Drogba: Set to become a City gent?

The Guardian asks whether the Abu Dhabi United Group's failure to sign Kaka sounds the death knell for future big name signings, whilst others conclude that the Gulf royal family has been taught a humiliating lesson in political maneuvering. Corriere dello Sera, for instance, has reported that Kaka lambasted City's delegation for not having a clue what was going on and failing to table a bid in their six hour meeting with his representatives.

So you would be forgiven for thinking City would lower their sights and ambitions. Not so. Thursday's papers brim with fresh targets to sooth City's hearts after their very public jilting with The Times reporting that Barcelona's Thierry Henry is again on the club's radar. After a difficult start to his time at the Catalan club Henry has begun to shine and has been instrumental in Barcelona's dominance in La Liga this season. But £10 ($13.89) million might just be enough to capture the Frenchman.

They may need the firepower. City's absent Brazilian international, Robinho, is being lined up by his former national team boss Luis Felipe Scolari at Chelsea. City would be foolish to sell their prolific striker, you may think, but according to The Sun Didier Drogba could well be heading in the other direction. Which, on the face of it, would keep both sets of fans happy.

One of Europe's hottest properties appears to have made his mind up as to where he will play for the rest of the season. German under-19 striker Savio Nsereko has been in rich form for Serie B team Brescia. So much so that Arsenal, Barcelona and West Ham have all been reported to be close to a deal to clinch his signature. But according to La Gazzetta dello Sport he will actually sign for Napoli instead.

Over in Spain, next summer's presidential election at Real Madrid sees the usual round of crazy promises being made by the various candidates. And they don't get any more outlandish than the claims of former president Florentino Perez. After already claiming to have a promise that Ronaldo will join him at the Bernabeu, El Mundo has reported that he has also apparently reached a secret deal with Silvio Berlusconi to take Kaka to Madrid whilst also securing the services of Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

Which all seems rather far fetched. But with Wenger becoming increasingly frustrated with Arsenal's miserly transfer policy – the club's bid for Andrei Ashavin has hit the rocks after failing to meet Zenit St Petersburg's valuation, according to the Daily Mail – and Perez having a reputation for securing previously unthinkable transfers as he did by signing Luis Figo from arch rivals Barcelona, maybe it's worth taking notice.


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Filed under:  Football
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