Sport Station

Dominant Bayern rue missed chances in Napoli

Bayern Munich were left to dwell on their wastefulness after another dominant performance in a 1-1 draw at Napoli that put them two points clear at the top of Champions League Group A.
Coach Jupp Heynckes has repeatedly highlighted Bayern's low conversion rate despite scoring 25 goals in nine league games and conceding just one in a near perfect start to the season.
On Tuesday it was a similar story with the Bavarians dominating for long spells, missing a penalty and several clear chances and failing to open up what would have been an impressive lead after only three games.
The Bundesliga leaders, who have lost only once in all competitions this season, have extra motivation to do well in the Champions League with the final to be held at their own Allianz Arena next year.
"It is a strange feeling. You walk off satisfied for having gotten a point and dissatisfied because you could have won," said striker Mario Gomez, who saw his penalty saved on 49 minutes.
Bayern defender Holger Badstuber's own goal, when he deflected in a Christian Maggio cross, was only the second goal they have conceded all season but Bayern should have added to Toni Kroos' second-minute opener.
Gomez, Kroos and Thomas Mueller squandered a handful of chances as Bayern failed to apply the killer touch to their fast-paced approach play.
"We would have preferred to win and given our game in the second half it would have been deserved," Heynckes said.
"Up until Napoli's equalisers (in the 39th minute) we did not allow anything at the back. In the second half we again took control of the game and dominated".
Bayern top their Champions League group on seven points from three games, with Napoli on five and Manchester City, 2-1 winners against Villarreal, on four. The Spaniards are without a point.
"Now we have two home games against Napoli and Villarreal and if we win both of them we will advance," Gomez said.
Reuters

eurosport.com

City learn new trick with comeback win

Manchester City may have paid a club record £38 million to bring Sergio Aguero and his dazzling Latin American skills to the Etihad Stadium, but it is a finish from barely two yards out which could become one of the most remembered of his time at the club.
The Argentina striker's winner against Villarreal in the third minute of stoppage time last night secured a 2-1 victory which has given City's hopes of qualifying from their Champions League group a real boost.

On a night in which Wayne Rooney's two penalties against Otelul Galati got Manchester United's own campaign back on track, failure to beat Villarreal would have been a real blow to City's morale as well as their prospects ahead of Sunday's derby at Old Trafford.

For a while, it looked as though they might not even get a draw. Cani's early goal looked as though it would set up the most crushing disappointment in Manchester this side of the Stone Roses reunion gigs.

Just as well Roberto Mancini had almost £40 million-worth of goalscorer to bring off the bench then, though not before he had introduced Gareth Barry and James Milner into the fray.

What makes the late victory so noteworthy is that City have so rarely been able to achieve them under Mancini. In the past 12 months they had come from behind to grab victory just once before last night, a 4-3 home win over Wolves back in January.

There has been a handful of other times when they have scrapped back to claim draws - most recently the 1-1 draw against Napoli on their first match in the Champions a month ago

That lone result against Wolves looks even more isolated when you consider that, in the same period, they have lost seven times after conceding the first goal

While Sheikh Mansour's billions have funded the hasty assembly of a star-studded squad at City, those petrodollars have not been able to foster a team spirit among them.

The group of players that Mancini has put together have had to cultivate their own winning mentality, something which has been distinctly absent from City's recent history.

Remember, even in that one season under Sven-Goran Eriksson's management and Thaksin Shinawatra's financial backing which kicked off the club's transformation in 2007-08, City only finished ninth, below Portsmouth and Blackburn. The change in the respective complexions of those three clubs in the intervening three years shows just how quickly things can change in football.

Since then, the City squad is virtually unrecognisable, with only Micah Richards and Joe Hart able to remember the days when Stuart Pearce was the gaffer.

With almost no links to even their recent past, City have had to go about creating their own history, and it is wins like last night's which will do just that. A regulation 3-0 victory over an average Villarreal side would have been just another win, one which would have pleased Mancini, no doubt, but would not have taught him anything new about his players.

Judging by his ecstatic reaction to Aguero's late strike, playing poorly and still winning was a much greater source of satisfaction for the Italian boss. His players can now look back upon this win as an example of them sticking together even as things looked bleak and getting the job done, something surely have to do again and again if they are to achieve their lofty ambitions.

And, in the short term, it provides the ideal boost for the City camp ahead of the biggest Manchester derby in the league for many a year this weekend.

- - -

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The show will begin with an hour of talk, anectodes (sic) and opinion taking in two intertwining careers that have spanned almost forty years in football, TV and radio. Following this will be a half hour, no-holds barred Q&A session where the controversial duo will put themselves on the line with anything you want to throw at them!" - The blurb for Andy Gray and Richard Keys's 'Live & Loud UK Tour 2011' is sure to pack out civic centres from Worthing to Wolverhampton. Who wouldn't want to hear hilarious, uncensored about getting sacked over a sexism row and...er... um...

FOREIGN VIEW: "The unique link between the old Juventus and the new Juve is our captain, Alessandro del Piero. He wanted to stay with us for one more year, and this will be his last season wearing the black-and-white jersey." - Juve president Andrea Agnelli announces that the great Italian forward will be leaving the club next summer, by which time he would have played his 19th season for the Bianconeri.

COMING UP: Plenty of fun and games to be had before tonight's Champions League fixtures. Euroscout will be running the rule over Marseille forward Loic Remy, West Brom striker Shane Long will be put Under the Microscope and Jim White will be filing his latest blog.

Then tonight catch live coverage from 19:45 of Chelsea v Genk, Marseille v Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen v Valencia, Olympiacos v Borussia Dortmund, FC Porto v APOEL Nicosia, Shakhtar Donetsk v Zenit St. Petersburg, AC Milan v BATE Borisov, Barcelona v FC Viktoria Plzen and Leicester City v Watford at 19:45. One of those matches is in the Championship.

eurosport.com

We can win the group now beams Mancini

Manchester City 2-1 Villarreal: Last minute Aguero goal sinks Yellow Submarine

Tweet my Goal! Manchester United and Manchester City Champions League special

Oliver Holt's Big Match Verdict: More sub controversy for Mancini but he could just have sealed City's Champions League survival

Champions League review: Bayern draw with Napoli and the rest of Tuesday's action

"It was important for us to win this game," said the City manager, who wildly celebrated the winner. "I hope this will be very important. It was important to win the first game in Champion League and now I think anything can happen in this group in terms of first place.

"At the moment Bayern Munich have seven points, Napoli five and us four. It's open for the first and second places.

"The goal came from our last chance. I think in that moment we were lucky and you need to be lucky to score in the last seconds.

"Yes, probably it would have been very difficult to qualify if we had not won. The situation would still have been open, but now this is much better."

Mancini feels City's fate hinges on their game away to Napoli on November 22

"Yes, 100 per cent," he said. "I think that game will be very important. Before this we will play the game in Villarreal and it's important we take all the points there.

"But the game in Naples will be the crucial game. I don't know for which position, but first place is open."

Mancini also claims winning with the last kick of the game is the perfect boost for his side going into Sunday's derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"It was important for the Champions League," he said. "The derby will be a different game, another situation. But it's good for our confidence and it's important to go there and do well because it will be very hard."

Mancini also defended his bold decision to haul Adam Johnson off before half-time with City trailing, claiming the England winger understood his call to replace him with Gareth Barry.

"I spoke with him and he understands," he said. "Every manager can decide if the team needs a tactical substitution and unfortunately players have to leave the pitch and will be disappointed, but Adam is a very important player for us.

"We were conceding four or five counter-attacks and didn't have many players in the middle. I wanted to move Yaya Toure behind Edin Dzeko.

"It was not because Adam did not play well and he did play well. It was a tactical substitution."

Mancini was reluctant to discuss the outcome of tomorrow's investigation into Carlos Tevez's alleged refusal to play as a substitute in last month's Champions League match at Bayern Munich.

However, he intriguingly added: "I'm soft because I'm a good man and I can't understand everything but I would prefer not to speak about this situation."

Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido admitted defeat was hard to take.

Garrido said: "I think we have done a good match and we did deserve - if not to win - a 1-1 (draw).

"I thought we had a good match in general, in all aspects, and to lose in the last minute in this way is difficult.

"Congratulations to City because they won but we thought we deserved more from this match.

"My players thought the goal was offside but it was not offside. They thought it was unfair to lose this way but we must accept it."

mirrorfootball.co.uk

Tevez's move 'home' to Boca falls through

Boca Juniors have been priced out of an audacious move to re-sign Carlos Tevez.

Buenos Aires-based Boca were considering a cheeky bid to bring Tevez back to the club, where he started his career as a 16-year-old, in an emergency loan move.

But the Argentinians have had to admit defeat, because of the Manchester City outcast's £250,000-a-week salary.

Boca were hoping that either Tevez would slash his wage demands or that City would subsidise his huge salary, but they have had to admit both are highly unlikely.

Brazil's Corinthians - another of Tevez's former clubs - are the only South American side with the money to sign the striker, and they claim they will renew their interest in the winter transfer window.

Juventus, who failed with a bid to sign Tevez in the summer, and AC Milan are also preparing bids for January.

The 27-year-old will finally learn his punishment for allegedly refusing to play against Bayern Munich when he appears before a City disciplinary hearing this week.

mirrorfootball.co.uk

AC Milan want Anelka in cut price deal

Having played in England, France, Spain and Turkey it now looks as though Nicolas Anelka will be given the chance to move to Italy in January.

Anelkas contract at Chelsea expires at the end of the season and according to Talksport AC Milan will move for the French forward in January to fight off potential competition for his signature in the summer.

Anelka joined Chelsea in 2008 and the 32 year old could be available for 2.5 million. One stumbling block for the Italian giants would be his possible wage demands, although Milan are ready to offer Anelka a one and a half year contract.

football.co.uk

Wenger: I'm leading a 'happy club'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is sure he is once again in charge of a happy, united dressing room after Thomas Vermaelen bucked the recent trend by committing his future to the club.
Arsenal's disappointing start to the season, with four losses in their first eight Barclays Premier League outings, comes on the back of a summer that saw star men Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave the Emirates after long periods of speculation. But ahead of a Champions League Group F clash against Marseille, Belgium stopper Vermaelen provided a boost to Wenger.
"What is important is that in our environment it gives a different message," Wenger told Arsenal Player.
"When you listen to people it looks like an exodus with everybody leaving the club but we are a happy club.
"We did not have the start of the season that we wanted but the atmosphere inside the club is very solid, very united and very positive.
"We want to turn the results round and the fact that some players extend their contract at the moment is a positive sign for us.
"We are unified and that is down to our mental strengths."
Wenger, who travelled without the injured Kieran Gibbs (stomach muscle), is hoping the match can continue the positive feeling. OM have won both of their Group F games to date, but Wenger is encouraged by how his side have approached Champions League.
"We play with a bit more freedom away from home in Europe and there is a bit less pressure," he said upon his arrival in Marseille.
"But in Udinese we also played with massive pressure because that was the game of the season for us. Not to win that game would have been a disaster. You can see since then that it was a good game (to win) because Udinese are top of the league in Italy and at the time I could feel they were a very good side."

football.co.uk

Madrid roll on

Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid continued their remarkable run of goalscoring form as they crushed Lyon 4-0 in UEFA Champions League Group D to make qualification from the group stage a mere formality.
Real's third straight win in the group leaves them five points clear in the group with half the games played. It also takes to 20 the number of goal's Mourinho's men have scored in their last five European and domestic matches.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 19th minute and a burst after the break put paid to the French side's chances of clawing back into the game, with further goals coming from Sami Khedira, a Hugo Lloris own goal and Sergio Ramos.
Also in Group D, Ajax moved level with Lyon in second place with a priceless 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, Derk Boerrigter and Christian Eriksen grabbing the goals in the second half.
Bayern Munich looked set to make it three Group A wins in a row when Toni Kroos put them ahead in the second minute against at the Stadio San Paolo, but Holger Batstuber's 39th-minute own goal gave Napoli a 1-1 draw.
Claudio Ranieri's Inter Milan made light of their dismal form in Serie A to move to the top of Group B with a 1-0 win over Lille in France.
Inter slumped to 17th in the table after defeat at Catania at the weekend but Giampaolo Pazzini's 21st-minute goal was enough to take pole position after previous leaders Trabzonspor were thumped by CSKA in Moscow.
The Russians, who started the night bottom of the group with a single point to their name, took a 29th-minute lead through Seydou Doumbia, and late goals from Aleksandrs Cauna and Doumbia again sealed a 3-0 win.
Benfica moved two points clear at the top of Group C as Bruno Cesar and Oscar Cardozo both scored for the Portuguese giants in an impressive 2-0 win over Basle in Switzerland.

football.co.uk

Injury left Gerrard feeling low

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted his injury problem this year left him at the lowest ebb of his career.
Gerrard made his first start in seven months with a goalscoring return during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United having undergone surgery on his troublesome groin in March. The 31-year-old had initially been expected to be back for the start of the current campaign but he suffered a setback in July when he was admitted to hospital with an infection related to the groin injury.
Speaking about the injury, Gerrard told several national newspapers: "When I got the injury I knew it was going to be a serious one, something I wasn't used to. I had to try to be positive but I will admit that I was down."
He added: "There were times when I was as low as I've ever been as a footballer.
"I think it's only natural that you have doubts and different things do cross your mind from time to time."
The England midfielder added: "Before the operation I'd been getting niggles and having injections to play. Basically, I knew that wasn't right.
"I was missing training sessions and coming in the day before a game trying to get that last session in or having injections to play the next day.
"You can only do that for a certain amount of time before your body gives in - and mine gave in.
"My groin packed in on me and when it happened I was down and I was low.
"When it happened it took time before I got back into a positive frame of mind. Without doubt the last six months have been the hardest of my career."

football.co.uk

Repsol Honda head to Malaysia as World Champions

After a fantastic weekend in Australia, where they took both the Rider's and Constructor's Championships, the Repsol Honda Team are en route to Malaysia for the penultimate round of the 2011 Moto GP World Championship.
Casey Stoner was crowned World Champion after winning his home Grand Prix with two races of the season remaining. Repsol Honda riders Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa are both still fighting for third position in the Championship with just four points separating them.

The Australian has won at Sepang in all the three classes, twice at MotoGP level in 2007 and 2009. The Spaniard has visited the podium four times in MotoGP but has yet to take the top step, although he has won in both the 250cc (2004) and 125cc (2003) categories. Victory in the MotoGP class also eludes the Italian, who has had four podium finishes at the Malaysian track, two of which were in MotoGP in 2008 and 2010.

Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda
"After clinching the title in the last race at Phillip Island, we go to Malaysia with a lot less pressure and we can just look forward to the race. It's disappointing to hear that Jorge Lorenzo won’t be there, we had hoped that his recovery from the operation would mean he could race. After pre-season testing in Sepang, we proved to be competitive, so we will arrive there positive and look to enjoy the weekend. We're also testing the 1000cc bike on Monday after the race, with the Championship now wrapped up, we can concentrate on the development of next years machine, so I'm also looking forward to that".

Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda
"Malaysia is one of my favourite tracks, so I really want to get there and push 100% to try and win this race. We arrive highly motivated after the race in Australia, a circuit which has always been difficult for me. The last two races are very important; I will fight to retain third position in the Championship even though I know Dani and some other riders will be also hard to beat".

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda
”We have a couple of days to rest and recover from the race in Australia now and I'm looking forward to arriving in Malaysia. Sepang is a circuit I like and where we have had good results in the past. I won there in 125cc and 250cc, but not yet in MotoGP and this is a very good motivation for me. The winter test in Sepang was good and we have some interesting data to start working with. I really want to achieve two very good results and finish the season in the best way possible".

motogp.com

Simoncelli aiming to finish season in style

Following his second place behind 2011 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner at Phillip Island, Marco Simoncelli cannot wait to tackle the remaining two rounds of the season.
The Team San Carlo Honda Gresini rider has travelled from Australia to Malaysia in high spirits, with the podium again in his thoughts, at Sepang, a circuit which he impressed at during pre-season testing last winter. “Super Sic” knows that the sky is the limit now and he is refusing to rule out the possibility of a first ever MotoGP win before the season is out, after recording his best result in his MotoGP career last time out.

Hiroshi Aoyama endured more bad luck in Australia but he is determined to sign off from MotoGP in style in the remaining two races. At Phillip Island he was unable to back up his impressive free practice pace in qualifying or in the race due to a pair of unfortunate crashes. However, having won at Sepang twice before in the 250cc class and following on from an impressive first MotoGP appearance there last year, he is optimistic of turning his fortunes around.

Marco Simoncelli, San Carlo Honda Gresini Team
“I left Phillip Island, a circuit and place I really love, feeling very happy. I had another good race and finished second after another wonderful battle with Dovizioso, which gave me a lot of satisfaction. I had been second for the whole race so to see Andrea standing on the second step of the podium would have been hard to take. I celebrated it with my team, but I already had my mind on Malaysia. I never managed to win at Sepang in the 250cc category but I was on the podium there for my last two seasons in the intermediate class and in testing there last winter, I was really on the pace. I am sure I can do a good job this weekend. There is no reason why we can't be fighting for the podium, the top step would be even better of course, and that’s what we will be striving for in the Malaysian Grand Prix.”

Hiroshi Aoyama, San Carlo Honda Gresini Team
“The weekend in Australia didn't start too badly and after the first couple of sessions, I was looking forward to a positive race at a track where the atmosphere is always really special. Unfortunately, the weather turned and it caused me a few problems, including a heavy crash on Saturday which ended my session early and then again on Sunday, when I was caught out by the rain. It was a shame because I had promised myself I would make the most of my last few races in MotoGP and the first of the three ended in disaster. Anyway, we now go to Sepang, where I won twice in 250 and finished seventh in MotoGP last year. I like the track and I always get a good feeling there from the place and from the people.”

motogp.com

Sweltering Sepang welcomes 2011 Champion Stoner

The penultimate round of the season takes place this weekend as Casey Stoner arrives at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix as the newly crowned 2011 MotoGP World Champion.
After a dream weekend at his home race at Phillip Island in which a ninth victory of the year sealed him the 2011 title, MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner arrives at the Sepang International Circuit for Round 17 of the season satisfied that his first campaign with the Repsol Honda team has been a resounding success.

The Australian is set to make his 100th premier class GP start this weekend, and despite having secured his second MotoGP title with two rounds remaining will be just as hungry to continue his phenomenal form in 2011. On the podium at every round except one this year (Round 2 at Jerez), Stoner has not been off the rostrum for the last 14 races and will be out to deliver Honda their first win of the 800cc era at Sepang – a track at which the 26 year-old himself has won in the 125cc, 250cc and premier classes.

Jorge Lorenzo was a notable absentee from the starting grid in Australia and the deposed World Champion will also miss this weekend’s race as well. A nasty finger injury picked up in a Sunday morning warm-up crash at Phillip Island ruled the Yamaha Factory Racing rider out of the race, and following surgery he will not be able to compete in Malaysia either.

Lorenzo’s position as runner-up looks to be almost secured despite his inability to ride, although third-placed Andrea Dovizioso could still mathematically beat him to second in the final standings. The Italian finished on the podium in Australia as he pushes hard in his final races with Repsol Honda before a switch of teams in 2012, and he remains four points ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa in the duo’s battle for positions in the factory outfit’s pecking order.

Yamaha’s Ben Spies missed last Sunday’s race in Australia after taking a heavy blow to the head in a crash in qualifying, but expects to be fit to ride at a track on which he finished fourth in his rookie season last year. The American remains on course for a top-five Championship finish in his first season on the factory YZR-M1.

Thanks to his second podium of the year in Australia, San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli drew level on points with Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) in the Championship and is still well able to challenge Spies for fifth. For Rossi the Phillip Island weekend could not have finished in more disappointing fashion as the Italian crashed out for a second successive race, as his woes on the Desmosedici continued. The nine times World Champion has taken nine podiums from his 11 previous premier class visits to Sepang, and his last MotoGP victory came in last year’s Malaysian GP.

On the other side of the Ducati Team garage Nicky Hayden continues his search for a second podium of the season at a track he is yet to step onto the rostrum, but where he has finished in fourth position on five previous occasions. A solid top-five ride in Australia will have boosted Colin Edwards on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 as the American sees out his final two races with Hervé Poncharal’s team before a switch next season, and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) appears set to achieve a top-ten finish this season after it was announced in Australia that the Japanese rider will bid farewell for now to the MotoGP World Championship at the conclusion of the campaign.

Mapfre Aspar rider Héctor Barberá is working hard to be fit to ride in Malaysia following surgery on the fractured collarbone he suffered in Japan just over two weeks ago, and John Hopkins will accompany Álvaro Bautista on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R as a wildcard at the circuit where the Spaniard scored his equal best premier class result of fifth last year.

motogp.com

Ducati Team continue work on GP11.1 in Malaysia

After a difficult weekend in Phillip Island, the Ducati Team has arrived in Sepang, eager to continue work on the GP11.1 for the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
The Ducati Team left Australia on Monday, and after a 24 hour break, the team is ready to get back to work on the GP11.1 for the Malaysian GP. Sepang is one of the widest tracks on the calendar, reaching a width of 16 metres in parts and the asphalt temperature is often very high due to the tropical climate. The layout is varied, with a little of everything: two spots where riders reach sixth gear, but others that are technical and taken in first.

Since its MotoGP debut, the Ducati Team has achieved three wins and one podium at Sepang. Valentino Rossi, who counts the track among his favourites, has six wins and three podiums, while Nicky Hayden has never finished in the top three but has always been very consistent, with five fourth-place finishes in his career, along with one fifth and a sixth.

Valentino Rossi, Ducati Team
“I like the Sepang circuit a lot, although the weather conditions are always extreme. We didn’t have much good luck in Australia, and we also had to work harder than expected on the bike’s setup. We hope to do better here in Malaysia starting on Friday. Anyway, we’ll also be able to verify where we are compared to the tests that we did here last year, it will be interesting to compare things now, with what we had then.”

Nicky Hayden, Ducati Team
“The conditions in Malaysia are typically hot and steamy, very different from what we had at Phillip Island on Sunday. The Sepang circuit has a good mix of everything, so you need the bike to do everything well. There are some long straightaways where you need a fast bike that brakes well, along with some fast corners, like Turns 5 and 6 and a section in the back. On the other hand, there are also some slow little hairpins, so it’s a good mix of everything that really challenges a rider and bike. It will be interesting to get back on this track after spending a lot of time here in February. The bike has changed a lot, so we’ll see what kind of progress we’ve actually made.”

motogp.com

Lorenzo’s surgery a success

Following successful plastic surgery in Australia, Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo has now flown home to Barcelona for a period of recovery.
As already confirmed, the Mallorcan rider will miss this weekend’s Grand Prix of Malaysia. A decision on his participation in the final race of the season at Valencia will be made within the next two weeks dependent on the progress of his recovery.

“Casey has had an incredible season with very few mistakes,” commented Lorenzo. “He has always been very strong and consistent so it has been very difficult to beat him. Congratulations to him, he has been the best this year and deserves his second title, a huge achievement as it comes with a different manufacturer. I would have liked to have fought until the end, maybe until Valencia but the accident on Sunday made it impossible. I am very proud of my team for all the hard work they have put in to take second place in the championship. Now we have to think about next year and work as hard as possible to win again. After the crash I was very worried that I would not have full feeling in my finger again, after the excellent treatment I received, I have been assured that I will have complete feeling in my nerves and tendons. This gives me good confidence; I can’t wait to get back on my M1 again!”

motogp.com

Rooney banned for three Euro 2012 matches

England striker Wayne Rooney was on Thursday banned for three matches by UEFA for his red card against Montenegro, a decision which will rule him out of the group stages of Euro 2012.
Manchester United star Rooney was punished for his 74th-minute sending off in the 2-2 draw in Podgorica last Friday in England's final qualifier when he kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic .
"The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has today handed down a three-match suspension to England forward Wayne Rooney following his dismissal during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro last Friday," said a UEFA statement.
The Football Association is yet to decide whether or not to appeal.
"Further to UEFAs decision to impose a three match suspension on Wayne Rooney following his sending off against Montenegro, The FA await the full reasons from the disciplinary committee, and will give full consideration to the decision internally, before deciding on any response to UEFA or making any further public comment," the statement said.
England had been hopeful that the 25-year-old would only serve a one-game ban after referee Wolfgang Stark admitted Rooney's acceptance of his red card could work in his favour.
Rooney's sending off had reopened all the old question marks about the striker's temperament, echoing his 2006 World Cup quarter-final dismissal for a similarly reckless foul on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho.
England coach Fabio Capello said Rooney, who has 73 caps, had been guilty of a "silly" mistake, and had already revealed that he plans to use next month's friendly against world champions Spain at Wembley as an opportunity to plan for the player's absence.
"I think all the players are important. But we will find the solution to play without him. We will try something the next game, the next friendly game that we play," the Italian said.
Capello admitted that Rooney's behaviour was indefensible.
"It's a red card. I can't defend that. He made a silly mistake. He said 'yes, sorry'," Capello said in the aftermath of the game in Montenegro.
"He's a really important player, he's got a lot of experience, he's played a lot of important games. But it was a silly mistake. What can you do?
"I've seen really important players make silly mistakes before. At that moment you can't understand why this happened."
Capello had also warned Rooney that he couldn't expect to stroll back into the squad after serving his suspension.
"Yes," replied Capello, when asked if he was prepared to leave Rooney out of his team.
"In my life as a manager I have put on the bench a lot of players. I always decided who was the best player at that moment."
The Italian added earlier this week: "I need to find the solution. And if we find that solution, he needs to work to return to the first 11.
"You know me. Sometimes I make mistakes but I try to select the best players, in the best moment of form."

football.co.uk

Agbonlahor winning fitness race

Aston Villa's leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor is winning his battle to be fit for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash at Manchester City.

Agbonlahor has been suffering with a back problem in the early weeks of the season and was substituted after a stellar performance in the 2-0 win over Wigan a fortnight ago. But the 25-year-old came through training this week with no problems to report and is set to face Roberto Mancini's side as he looks to add to his four goals in seven league games.

Villa manager Alex McLeish said: "Gabby has trained. We are very pleased with the way he has trained. Today was the most intense session for him. We put him through it a wee bit and he came through with flying colours."

He added: "We expect him, barring a nightmare in training tomorrow, to be okay for the game at City.

"He has done really well for us this season and I believe he can get even better."

Midfielders Stephen Ireland (foot) and Barry Bannan (Achilles) and defender James Collins (foot) are also expected to be available, although striker Nathan Delfouneso (hamstring) and on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas (Achilles) are out.

football.co.uk

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has rubbished his reputation for being a poor tackler, insisting he was "just getting people back" after being fouled himself.
The former England international became known for a perceived technical weakness in tackles, particularly towards the end of his distinguished career.
But the midfielder, who retired this summer, told BBC Radio Five Live: "Of course I can tackle. There's plenty of evidence of being able to tackle. I was just getting people back. If someone got me early in the game it was always in the back of my mind that I needed to get them back."
He added: "I didn't always do it on purpose, some of it was just bad timing, I suppose.
"But I think throughout my career the record wasn't that bad, there were not that many yellow cards.
"Well, I suppose a few yellow cards, but not many sendings-off.
"But I think towards the end every time I made one tackle I got booked, because of my reputation I suppose."

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Higuain hits hat-trick in 4-0 victory

Reported Liverpool target Gonzalo Higuain may have moved one step closer to securing his long term future with Spanish giants Real Madrid after scoring a hat-trick away at Espanyol yesterday evening.

A move to Anfield in the January transfer window had been mooted with Higuains first team future in doubt due to stiff competition from Karim Benzema. An injury to the Frenchman as well as a hat-trick last night may have done enough to convince Jose Mourinho that he is his star striker. Cristiano Ronaldo claimed two assists for the first and third goals. Former Espanyol winger Jose Callejon returned to the club by scoring the third of Madrid’s goals.

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No Ferdinand for England

England will head into their Euro 2012 showdown with Montenegro without two of their most experienced players after Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were both left out of Fabio Capello's squad.

The Three Lions need a draw in Podgorica on Friday to book their place at next summer's European Championship finals. And Capello has decided they can achieve that mission without two men who have amassed a combined total of 167 caps.
Gerrard had already said he did not believe he was fit enough to be involved after only just recovering from a groin injury. However, Ferdinand was expected to be included after shaking off the hamstring strain he suffered at West Brom in August.

Jermain Defoe and Joleon Lescott have lost their places, with Bobby Zamora and Scott Carson recalled to a 24-man squad. Zamora's only cap came in a friendly against Hungary in August last year, after which he was sidelined after suffering a broken leg the following month.
He did return as a substitute for the June qualifier with Switzerland but did not play. Now 30, Zamora was bizarrely cited by Capello as one of the young players on which England's future rested following their woeful World Cup performance.

It does seem he has an international future under the Italian, although the presence of Manchester United's Danny Welbeck in a five-strong striking line-up that also includes Aston Villa's Darren Bent provides stiff competition in the quest to partner Wayne Rooney.
As expected, Ashley Young was picked despite being left out of Manchester United's win over Norwich on Saturday with an ankle injury.
Ferdinand started that match on the bench, which might have played a part in Capello's decision. However, after starting the previous two games against Stoke and Basle, questions must now be asked about the extent to which Ferdinand now figures in Capello's plans.

Gary Cahill started alongside skipper John Terry for the recent matches against Bulgaria and Wales and the Bolton man retains his place, as does Ferdinand's blossoming United team-mate Phil Jones.
With Chris Smalling, like Tom Cleverley and Robert Green, ruled out through injury, a vacancy exists at right-back and the recalled Kyle Walker didn't do his chances of keeping out Micah Richards any harm by lashing home the winner for Tottenham in front of Capello in Sunday afternoon's north London derby.

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AVB has Frank to thank

Andre Villas-Boas praised Frank Lampard's sense of timing after the England midfielder's hat-trick helped Chelsea to a 5-1 victory over Bolton.

Lampard, who has been in and out of the team for both club and country recently, demonstrated that he still has plenty to offer by netting twice before the break and once in the second half at the Reebok Stadium, following up his midweek goal for the Blues in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Valencia in style.
"It was good for him because he had a good, solid performance alongside the rest of the team," Villas-Boas said. "He arrived with perfect timing into the box as he has done in the past years. His talent was never in question."

As well as 33-year-old Lampard, another star of the show was 22-year-old former Bolton loanee Daniel Sturridge, who gave his old club a torrid time and netted Chelsea's two other goals.
As far as Villas-Boas - himself only 33 - is concerned, players' ages are not an important issue.
"It is not a question of age - it is a question of competence, and this squad is full of competence," Villas-Boas said. "The talent of the players is never in question and I think we have enough to talent to try to continue to challenge for the Premier League."

Bolton's defending was generally poor, with goalkeeper Adam Bogdan - in the team for the injured Jussi Jaaskelainen - enduring a particularly bad afternoon, letting Daniel Sturridge's shot from the edge of the box loop in off him in the 25th minute when he should have saved, and then two minutes later parrying David Luiz's strike straight at the feet of Lampard, who tucked it away gleefully.
Trotters boss Owen Coyle said: "Young Adam Bogdan is going to have a terrific career, there is no doubt about it.

"But the third and fourth goals should have been basic saves and that is the thing with a goalkeeper - there is no hiding place if they make a mistake, it results in a goal.
"I feel for the kid, but he has to show the character to come through that."

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Sagna suffers broken leg

Arsenal's Bacary Sagna is likely to be out of action for around three months after breaking his leg in the north London derby against defeat to Tottenham.
Sagna was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after falling badly in the 68th minute and news of the break was later revealed by the French Football Federation.
Sagna joins an injury list at the Emirates that already includes Jack Wilshere, Thomas Vermaelen, Abou Diaby and Johan Djourou. Carl Jenkinson, a summer signing from Charlton, came on for Sagna against Spurs and could now be set for an extended run in the first team.
The right-back had been due to link up with the national side but has been replaced by Lille's Mathieu Debuchy.
France, who will be without Sagna for the games against Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, released the following statement: "The doctor of the France team, Fabrice Bryand, was informed by fellow Arsenal of a fracture to the right fibula of Bacary Sagna.
"The player was hurt during the match lost 2-1 by his club against Tottenham on Sunday. The defender will be operated and is not expected to be available for three months."

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