Daily Post

Football: Brooking Support for Under-Firebeckham

TREVOR BROOKING has backed England captain David Beckham to bounce back from his Euro 2004 misery. Beckham disappointed in all four games before England's elimination and later admitted his fitness had not been of the requiredlevel.

Football Euro 2004: Kirkland a Feature of England's Evolution ; Eriksson Keen On Goalkeeper

SVEN-GORANERIKSSON has insisted there is no need for revolution within the England squad ahead of the 2006 WorldCup. Eriksson has pledged to retain the nucleus of the current squad, even though they have not made it past the quarter-finals in either of the past two major tournaments.

Football Euro 2004: Campbell Convinced 'Goal' Should Have Stood

SOL CAMPBELL believes England were the victims of home bias during their Euro 2004 quarter - final defeat to Portugal. The Arsenal defender,one of England's best players during the tournament,has slammed Swiss referee Urs Meier for disallowing his 'goal'against the hosts, which would have put his side 2- 1 ahead with just seconds remaining.

Football Euro 2004: Scolari Playing Down a Figo Rift

PORTUGAL coachLuiz Felipe Scolari insists there is no rift between him and former FIFA World Player of the Year Luis Figo. Figo was substituted by Scolari during the Euro 2004 quarter - final victory over England last Thursday and the player's body language as he was removed made it clear he was not pleased.

Football Euro 2004: Rooney Could Be One of World's Best -Eusebio ; Portugal Great Praises Young Everton Star

HIS Euro 2004 tournament may have ended in injury and frustration,but Wayne Rooney has flown back to England followed by words of praise from a footballing legend. The Everton teenager has been the undoubted star of the tournament to date, scoring four goals and thrilling supporters and pundits alike with his verve, skill and vision in displays which have seen his estimated worth rise to pounds 50 million.

Football Euro 2004: Zidane Considers French Future

ZINEDINE ZIDANE will be "thinking about the future" over the coming weeks as he absorbs the disappointment of France's failed mission to become the first ever back-to-back European champions. Although he has not mentioned international retirement,he implied yesterday that it could be an option.

Football Euro 2004: Greece Is the Word

Football Euro 2004: Voller Calls for Hitzfeld Decision

RUDI VOLLER believes reluctant Ottmar Hitzfeld is the man the German Football Association should turn to as they seek a leader for their bid for World Cup 2006 glory. Hitzfeld is torn between making a rapid return to football, after leaving Bayern Munich in May,and spending the next year out of the game, devoting time to his family.

Football Euro 2004: Reiziger Move On

HOLLAND defender Michael Reiziger claims talks with Middlesbrough are ongoing and that he expects to play in the Premiership next season. The Barcelona defender had an outstanding at the Nou Camp but needs to find a new club.

Football Euro 2004: Collina Could Miss Final Date

UEFA will announce today which referees are to be trusted with the semi-finals and the final,but Italian referee Pierluigi Collina may miss out. As he refereed the opening game,it would be a surprise if he were given the final too.

Football Euro 2004: Holland Overcome Their Penalty Nerves at Last

FRANK DE BOER and the rest of Holland are breathing a sigh of relief after beating Sweden to finally end their "penalty syndrome" and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004. Holland crashed out of the last three European Championships and the 1998 World Cup on penalty shoot-outs but prevailed in their quarter- final in a game which had ended goalless after 120 minutes.

Football Euro 2004: Larsson Could Carry On for Sweden

HENRIK LARSSON has revealed he may continue to play international football despite Sweden's heartbreaking exit from Euro 2004 at the hands of Holland. The Dutch booked their place in the semi-finals of the tournament after Saturday night's dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Football Euro 2004: Andrade Hopes to Stop Key Striker

HAVING ended Wayne Rooney's tournament with a fractured foot, Portugal defender Jorge Andrade has now turned his sights on stopping Ruud van Nistelrooy in Wednesday's Euro 2004 semi-finals. Andrade was avoiding any direct responsibility for the fractured metatarsal bone suffered by Rooney when he tackled the 18- year old striker midway through the first- half of their clash in Lisbon. Andrade nevertheless insisted: "I was once injured like that and I wish he gets fit again as quickly as possi...

Football Euro 2004: Double Strike by Brilliant Baros Conquers Danes ; Czech Republic ... 3 Denmark ... 0

MILAN BAROS staked his claim to be named the player of the tournament with a superb double to send the Czech Republic surging into the semi-finals ofEuro 2004. The 22-year-oldLiverpool striker took his tally in the competition to five goals and has scored in every match so far.

Football Euro 2004: Buoyant Greeks Ready for Anything

GREECE goal hero Angelos Charisteas believes "anything can happen" following his side's sensational qualification for the Euro 2004 semi-finals at the expense of outgoing champions France. Greece, who had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1994 World Cup and have never before reached the knockout phase,have had a sensational tournament, beating hosts Portugal in the opening match and eliminating Spain.

Tennis: Wimbledon 2004: Disappointing End for Ferreira

WAYNE FERREIRA brought down the curtain on his last Wimbledon campaign with a 6-4 4-6 1-6 4-6 defeat by Florian Meyer and lamented it was not the fairy tale ending he had envisaged. The South African is scheduled to appear in the US Open in two months' time but he viewed this year's tournament at theAll England Club as his real swan song following after deciding to retire in September. But it was not the dream exit he'dhoped for,losing before a raft of empty seats on court seven.

Tennis: Wimbledon 2004: Henman Pays Tribute to Sunday Fans

TIM HENMAN has called for 'People's Sunday' to become an annual event at Wimbledon after beating Morocco's Hicham Arazi to move into the fourth round for the ninth year in a row. Cheered on by a fanatical partisan crowd who had queued from Saturday night for the 11,000 tickets on sale,Henman beat Arazi 7-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 onCentre Court.

Tennis: Wimbledon 2004: Sprem:Phantom Point Is Behind Me

KAROLINA SPREM admits her controversial second-round win over Venus Williams is well and truly in the past after edging into the fourth round at Wimbledon. The unseeded Croatian once again needed two tie-breaks to see off 32nd seedMeghann Shaughnessy on a sunny,but virtually empty court two. Sprem was awarded a phantom point by umpire Ted Watts during her second set tie-break in her clash with twice champion Williams in the previous round. Watts was subsequently given his marching orders by t...

Cricket: Oxton Caught Up in Buchanan Tornado

SPURRED by some amazing hitting from Australian century-maker LiamBuchanan,Oulton Park beat Oxton by eight wickets in a rain- ravaged game at Little Budworth to establish a 34 points lead at the top of the ECB Premier Division in the Murray Smith Accountants Cheshire County League. In a game reduced to 76 overs,Oxton posted 163- 5 at halfway thanks to Peter Benson's 52 not out and 35fromDamien Wallace. Oulton Park made short work of their task thanks to Melbourne hitter Buchanan, whose 110 in...

Cricket: Bryson Brightens the Day for New Brighton ; Premier Division

NEW BRIGHTON ended a run of three defeats to climb into mid- table in the Littlewoods Gaming Liver-pool Competition with a comprehensive win over Northern. The toss was always going to be important after the rain and damp atmosphere delayed the start and when Northern were inserted they were soon struggling. Chandika Hathurusinghe (4-50)and John Horrocks (3-13)did the damage and only James Cole (25)managed to put up any real resistance in a total of 127 off 51overs.