Everyone seems to have had their say regarding Ryan Shawcross’s challenge on Aaron Ramsey over the past week and a half. Many seem to be more interested in the media reaction to the tackle than the tackle itself. Though it is valid to wonder whether Shawcross would be cut so much slack if he weren’t English, and to draw comparisons with the media reaction to other badly-timed challenges down the years such as Aldo Duscher’s on David Beckham, none of this….. read more

After Arjen Robben’s 30 yard screamer for Bayern Munich last night sealed the German side’s path into the quarter-finals, Sport.co.uk thought it would be a good idea to delve the Champions League archives in search for other important goals from European football’s elite competition.
The former Chelsea winger, who has been in exceptional form for Die Roten this season with 10 goals in 22 matches, cut in from the right and sent an unstoppable left foot shot that whistled past Fiorentina goalkeeper….. read more

Bayern Munich manager Luis Van Gaal admits he is unsure if Franck Ribery will be at the club next season, but suggested the Bavarian giants should let the winger leave if he wants to. The France international has been linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs including Chelsea FC, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, while Manchester City are also monitoring the 26-year-old.
Bayern Munich boss Van Gaal suggests the player’s commitment on the field remains undiminished, but newspaper reports intimate….. read more

Former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate believes that former Boro Academy protégé Adam Johnson can force his way into Fabio Capello’s England side in time for the 2012 European Championships in Ukraine and Poland but feels that the forthcoming World Cup has come a little too soon for Manchester City’s new signing.
Johnson, who had been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, finally followed Stewart Downing out of the Middlesbrough exit in January sealing an £8 million deal with Manchester….. read more

Fabio Capello believes England should be aiming for a place in the World Cup semi-finals at the very least, suggesting Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard’s  are well worthy of their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites.
Capello claims the England management position was always a job he dreamt of having and admits leading England in South Africa in June, is the biggest challenge of his career.
While acknowledging his rivals, the Italian believes it is high time England won the….. read more