English-only soccer team set to represent Britain at 2012 London Olympics

LONDON — A soccer team of only English players is set to represent Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

IPL only heading north in popularity stakes

LONDON - The second version of the Indian Premier League, which was played recently in South Africa, has only confirmed one thing - that the shortest version of game cricket is headed northwards in the popularity stakes.

Now, a ‘Mongoose’ bat that could revolutionise the way cricket is played

LONDON - Former Australian batsman Stuart Law has become the first player to use the new Mongoose blade in a cricket competition.

Chelsea can’t afford another season without a trophy, says Lampard

LONDON - Frank Lampard insists that Chelsea cannot afford another season without a trophy, and warns that fear of failure will drive him on in FA Cup final.

Torres gets a fat 30 million pound deal

LONDON - Fernando Torres has landed a big pay rise with a 30 million pound deal which will keep him at Liverpool for another five years.

Gazza dating glamour model half his age

LONDON - Geordie footie legend Paul Gascoigne a.k.a. Gazza is dating a 21-year-old blonde glamour model half his age.

Ronaldo no more on Real Madrid’s purchase list

LONDON - Ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo is officially off Real Madrid’s radar as his Manchester United received a welcome lift after their Champions League final defeat.

Chelsea meets Everton for the first time in FA Cup final

LONDON - Chelsea has won four of their eight FA Cup finals and Everton five of their 12. The two are now getting ready to meet for the first time in the final Saturday.

Flintoff says his Ashes dream is still alive

LONDON - England all rounder Andrew Flintoff believes his Ashes dream is still alive, despite being ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup due to injury.

Robinho delighted over Man U’s flop show against Barcelona

LONDON - Robinho has revealed that he is delighted at seeing arch rivals Manchester United flop in Rome during Champions League Final.

Henry doubly happy to clinch Champions League medal on his daughter’s birthday

LONDON - Barcelona’s forward Thierry Henry was doubly happy, as he clinched a Champions League winners’ medal on his daughter’s birthday.

Chelsea bid for Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery

LONDON - Chelsea is locked in talks to sign Bayern Munich ace Franck Ribery for 43-million pounds.

England tipped to block Ponting’s Ashes extra man request

LONDON - England may scupper Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting’s plans to field an extra player in each of Australia’s two Ashes warm-up matches.

Boxing champ Amir Khan eyes Oscar after retirement

LONDON - British boxing champ Amir Khan wants to turn to acting once he is done knocking out competition in the ring.

100 million pound windfall for Champions League winner

LONDON - Bucking the trend of recession, European football’s Champions League has been successful in pulling more money and the winner in Rome can expect almost 100 million pounds.

Murray frustrated with fellow Brits not joining him at the top

LONDON - World number three Andy Murray has slammed Britain’s men tennis players for a string of “very poor” displays in 2009.

Here’s what’s playing on ManU’s ‘awful’ iPod playlist

LONDON - Few ’stinkers’ have allegedly managed to find their way on to Manchester United’s iPod playlist for the Champions League final.

Ancelotti had two secret meetings with Chelsea boss Abramovich

LONDON - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he held two clandestine meetings with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last year.
He admitted that he agreed to become Blues boss two months ago even though he had yet to sign a contract, but hinted that he might still opt to stay on in Italy.
He also revealed how Abramovich said his side had ‘no personality’ and dreams of becoming like Manchester United, Liverpool or Milan.

Ancelotti takes a dig at Mourinho

LONDON - Carlos Ancelotti did not miss a chance to take a dig at Jose Mourinho.
Following a meeting with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani last month in which he said he wanted to manage Chelsea, Ancelotti said the worst was over for Roman Abramovich as he had already worked with the Special One.

Driving and hearing football matches live on radio don’t mix

LONDON - Over two-million football fans, who listen to live matches on the radio while driving, have had an accident or near-miss, warned a study.

Newcastle owner apologises to fans

LONDON - Newcastle owner Mike Ashley apologised to the club’s fans after the team’s relegation from the English Premier League.

Everton’s Moyes is Manager of the Year

LONDON - Everton manager David Moyes received the League Managers’ Association’s (LMA) Manager of the Year award for a record third time.

‘We will destroy Manchester United, warns Barca’s Messi

LONDON - Barcelona and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has warned that Manchester United face a humiliating roll over in Wednesday night’s Champions League final in Rome.

Giggs tells Ron not to leave Man U

LONDON - With Manchester United set to take on Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome tonight, veteran Ryan Giggs has pleaded with star striker Cristiano Ronaldo to stay on at Old Trafford and not consider an offer from Real Madrid.

Soccer Wag Dani nearly lost her leg in club brawl

LONDON - Soccer WAG Danielle Lloyd nearly lost her leg after crashing through a glass table in a drunken brawl, it was revealed yesterday.

Burnley back in English Premier League

LONDON - Burnley returned to the English Premier League after defeating Sheffield United 1-0 in the promotion playoff final at the Wembley.

Newcastle, Middlesbrough relegated from Premier League

LONDON - Newcastle United were relegated from English Premier League Sunday as they suffered a humiliating 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Lalit Modi mulling two IPLs in a year

LONDON - After the success of Indian Premier League (IPL) on foreign soil, chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi is now planning to host two Twenty20 leagues in a year.