Champions League Draw Throws Up Double Reunion

Yesterday's draw for the last 16 of the Champions League brought about an intriguing Anglo-Italian duel, where England's big two clash with the giants of Milan. Manchester United will take on AC Milan, whilst Chelsea take on Inter.

Tasty enough you might think but when you throw in the double return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge and David Beckham to Old Trafford, the pinnacle of European football will be eagerly anticipated after the winter break.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United will be expected to progress into the quarter finals, especially with the second legs being played in England, highlighting the importance of topping the group.

For both of these men, it will be their first competitive return to their former clubs since leaving the Premier League. Chelsea have never quite been the same since the 'special one' left in 2007, and are now only returning to the sort of form displayed under him, though they have been shaky of late.

As for Beckham, this is perhaps the most interesting. Since leaving Old Trafford in 2003, it's very much the opinion that his career has gone downwards. After some success at Real Madrid, he was eventually forced out and chose America to play his football. Maybe he realised his mistake and he didn't want to admit it or he was just being loyal to LA Galaxy who he had promised so much to, but he returned to Europe last year to have an impressive spell on loan at AC Milan, where he has since returned again as the MLS season is over.

Of course, Beckham can also cite his claims for a place in England's World Cup squad, where I think he should still be. While some of the pace has gone, the quality still undoubtedly remains. His ability to pick out the perfect pass, or a fantastic delivery from a set piece is still there. He showed in performances in qualifying that he will never let England down and will always there when called upon. There are many by now who would have called it a day.

Of Chelsea and Manchester United's chances, they know that they can beat anybody at home so as long as they avoid a hammering in the San Siro they should have enough. But with Beckham and Mourinho adding an extra spice they will need to be on their guard.

----------

Less than a month after being sacked by Portsmouth, Paul Hart has already stepped back into management as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers. After the incident between Jim Magilton and Akos Buzsacky that was reported in this column last week, it was decided that Magilton wouldn't be continuing as boss.

So in comes Hart, and you would have thought he'd have had enough of uncertainties in the boardroom at Portsmouth only to step into a club which is probably even more uncertain.

You've got to give it to him though, he won't be deterred and is determined to get his managerial career back on track at Loftus Road. You sense he will have to be quick in getting results though. Hart is now the fifth permanent manager since October 2007, which is absolutely ridiculous.

The moguls that run QPR expect instant success, but how can they achieve that if a manger is given no time to get his own team together. All I can say Paul Hart is good luck because you're going to need it.

----------

Finally, of those Tottenham Hotspur players going to have their secret knees-up in Dublin behind Harry Redknapp's back. How on earth did they think they were going to get away with it?

Premier League footballers out on the town after their manager Harry Redknapp had publicly stated there would be no Christmas party in case of an incident that could potentially derail their season... kind of back fired then I guess.

Perhaps the most alarming thing of all though is the possibilty they didn't care if they were caught. But if there are players deliberately disobeying the manager's orders then there's only one thing for it - get them out. I suppose it depends who those players were which of yet we do not know.

Spurs have to quickly get this out of their system though and hope that it's not the secret Christmas party rather than the dodgy lasagne that derails their Champions League prospects.

England Satisfied With Group Draw

The gods were smiling this evening as England got the best draw they could possibly have hoped for in South Africa. They were placed in Group C along side USA, Algeria and Slovenia. Their first game will come against the Americans on June 12.

Looking at the possibilities before the draw was made, there were teams that England would have wanted to avoid, notably France and Portugal so they will be satisfied with their three opponents. To win the group now will be the expectation from fans and you would think England will. USA and Slovenia will be expected to fight it out for second, Slovenia who knocked out Russia in the play-offs, while I admit I don't know much about Algeria, though they won their qualifying group and also beat Egypt in a play-off, so maybe they shouldn't be written off completely.

But if England are serious contenders to win the tournament then they should not be too concerned about who lies in their group, though you don't want be too complacent either.

Looking further ahead England will be keen to avoid Germany in the last 16 who could lie in wait if either fail to win their groups. Otherwise it would be one from Australia, Serbia or Ghana.

Looking at the rest of the draw the group of death this time appears to be Group G which contains Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. That's Ronaldo, Drogba and Kaka coming up against each other in the group stages. France got off the hook somewhat, avoiding the big seeds and being placed into Group A with hosts South Africa, while their toughest test are likely to be Mexico. The other top sides will be expected to progress with a minimum of fuss. The first game of the tournament will be hosts South Africa against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11.

Though we all look forward to the draw for the group stages, like the Champions League, it gets really interesting in the knock out stages.

There is nothing like a World Cup to keep you going throughout the summer when the domestic action has ceased and with 188 days until the action begins I for one cannot wait.

Must Win For Arsenal?

At the beginning of the season, there weren't many who thought Arsenal had a realistic chance of winning the title apart from a few optimistic Gooners, but after a blistering start to the season many had begun talking up there chances.

They had bounced back from the double defeats in Manchester early on in the season and had returned to fantastic form in the Premier League. That was until last Saturday and an unexpected defeat at Sunderland, where Arsenal in truth weren't themselves. They have since returned to winning ways though after seeing off Standard Liege 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek.

Now comes a huge test of their mettle though as league leaders Chelsea visit the Emirates on Sunday. Arsenal currently find themselves eight points behind the Blues with a game in hand. While nobody can write off a side like Arsenal in November, you feel they need to win this one or at worst not lose.

Arsenal were unlucky to lose against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season, after being the better side for large parts of the game. But that is what the best do, they win games when they are not at their best.

Sometimes you don't feel the Gunners are capable of this, for them to beat Chelsea on Sunday I feel they will have to be at their best. They will not want to be reminded of the 4-1 beating that Chelsea dished out to them at the Emirates at the back end of the last campaign. While Arsenal are perhaps the nicest on the eye, there is no doubting the quality Chelsea have at their disposal.

But Chelsea are not inhuman, they are capable of having an off day, particularly on their travels. This is a game where all results are possible, but one you feel Arsenal will need to win to stop the fight for the Premier League title becoming a two-horse race.

---------

Defoe Sends Out A Reminder To Capello

After banging in five against Wigan last week, Jermain Defoe has perhaps reminded the whole of England why he should be in England's starting line up next summer.

It was a truly phenomenal display from Defoe and watching it you do have to question why Emile Heskey would be deployed ahead of him. Sure Heskey brings something different to the side with his hold up play, but I feel you need your strikers to score goals.

Indeed I would favour Peter Crouch ahead of Heskey, while he is not as strong, he can hold the ball up and also score goals. This is not a witch hunt or a major criticism of Heskey but this is a player who doesn't start regularly for Aston Villa, while it was Defoe and Crouch who got six between them against Wigan last Sunday.

Wayne Rooney is number one striker and rightly so, but he isn't always prolific but it is he who brings so much to the team that he can't be ignored. For me, Rooney and Heskey wouldn't be enough of a goal threat at next summer's finals.

There is also a certain Michael Owen, hero of previous major tournaments, to consider. For me, he is definitely worth putting on the plane, but for him to be picked he needs to be scoring regularly for Manchester United and prove he is fit enough.

So right now, if I was Fabio Capello I would go with Rooney and Defoe to start up front with Crouch as a different option if needed.

England brought back down to earth

After nine wins from nine in World Cup qualification and their place at next summer's showpiece booked with two games to spare, expectations had heightened that Fabio Capello was the man to bring the coveted trophy back to England. However, two consecutive defeats against Ukraine and Brazil later and doubts are beginning to creep in about England's chances.

A poor performance yesterday by what was mainly England's second string in a 1-0 defeat which in truth flattered England following on from an equally disappointing showing in Dnipro last month.

Of course, it could be argued that England took their foot off the gas in both games as they had already qualified when meeting Ukraine and yesterday's game was just a friendly with many key players missing. There was no sign of the Brazilians doing the same though, they oozed class, goalscorer Nilmar particularly catching the eye and one sensed that they could have played better if they'd needed to.

Looking at England's record under Capello, four defeats from 21 games may not seem so bad. Three of those teams though were France, Spain and Brazil. If we are to win the World Cup next summer it's likely we are going to come across one of these teams, Spain and Brazil being the best in the world at the moment.

I am not saying Capello hasn't done well, there has been definite progression and at least we have qualified for World Cup 2010 after the disaster of missing out on Euro 2008. I just urge fans not to expect too much as there are some quality teams around in the world at the moment getting to the semi-finals would be a success. For me at the moment though you can look no further than Brazil and Spain.

---------

There was disappointment also over in Dublin as The Republic Of Ireland's chances of qualification hang by a thread as they lost the home leg of their World Cup play-off against France 1-0.

It is a huge ask of the Irish now to go to Paris and win by two goals (or do it on penalties). I said on Friday that I felt The Republic had to win last night's game and I stand by that. You never know what can happen in football though and all is not yet lost.

If indeed qualification failure is confirmed on Wednesday, this should not mask what strides Ireland have made under Giovanni Trapattoni. Drawn into a group also containing world champions Italy it was always likely that their only chance of qualification would come through the play-offs.

Ireland actually remained unbeaten in the group, though it was too many draws that ultimately denied them challenging the Italians for top spot in group 8. Then lady luck didn't smile on them again as they were drawn against France, thanks partly to FIFA's decision to seed the play-offs after noticing the possibility of two big nations meeting each other.

Trapattoni has indeed done a fabulous job and The Republic Of Ireland are in with a great shout of reaching Euro 2012. They just need to hope for a bit more luck when the draw is made.

Irish Seek Home Comfort

The Republic Of Ireland go into their biggest game for seven years tomorrow night when they take on France at Croke Park. While it is only the first leg of the play-off for the World Cup finals, I feel that here is where the game will be won and lost for Ireland.

Despite the best efforts of FIFA to try and ensure that France safely qualify by seeding the play-offs, there is no doubt that they won't be taking the Irish easily. The Republic need to use this to their advantage though, the fans should feel that they have been treated harshly make a huge noise and be the twelfth man for their team. This will give them extra motivation and determination and maybe intimidate the French a little.

In my opinion the Irish simply must win tomorrows game to stand any chance of going to South Africa next summer, even a 1-0 win may not be enough. Ok, so the French aren't anywhere as near as good as they were ten years ago, and had a disastrous Euro 2008 campaign, going out in the group stages (although at least they were there), but if they need to get a result in the 2nd leg, I would expect them to turn up for the big occasion. These French players will not want to miss out on Football's biggest event.


The fans have grown tired of Raymond Domenech, and will be disappointed to be in the position they are, having finished runners up to Serbia in their qualifying group. In contrast, The Republic Of Ireland finished just behind current world champions Italy.

So a huge night is ahead in Dublin, and if the Irish don't win all is not completely lost, but I feel it probably will be.

---------

Of course, our very own England are also in action tomorrow in a glamorous friendly against Brazil. At least the setting is glamorous; Qatar, though unfortunately many of England's stars won't be on show.

There's a list as long as your arm of missing men including Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, Ferdinand and Johnson. This was supposed to be a chance for England to test themselves against the cream of the crop ahead of the World Cup next summer, but it will be a half strength team at best. Just a chance for The FA to make some money then, not what was their main thought of course...

Of course, these players are injured, so there's nothing you can really do. However you get the feeling if this was England v Brazil, World Cup Final, a few more of these players might be available.

---------

This column yesterday reported on the refreshing exploits in Peterborough United in their attempts to find a new manager. There is also the opposite side to the coin though with foreign managers being given the chance to start their careers in management in The Football League after Gus Poyet was appointed as the new manager of League One strugglers Brighton this week.

Of course with so many foreign players coming to these shores in the last twenty years it is only natural that there will be a growth in foreign managers too. This may not be such a bad thing though.

Eyebrows were raised at the beginning of last season when Roberto Di Matteo was appointed manager of Milton Keynes Dons, but he did a fine job and took them to the brink of The Championship losing out in the play-offs. This was recognised by West Bromwich Albion as they chose him to replace departing Tony Mowbray in the summer.

There are other examples too. Roberto Martinez was successful with Swansea and has since moved on too Wigan to have a crack at The Premier League. Paulo Souza is now finding his feet at The Liberty Stadium as Martinez's replacement after a not so successful spell at Queens Park Rangers.

Many people may look at these foreign managers as taking an opportunity from a young Brit. There is often a criticism aimed at foreigners saying they don't care and are just here for the money so fair play to them and Poyet in particular for being prepared to get his hands dirty in the muck and nettles of a League One relegation battle which he's likely to be involved in.

Of course I am not contradicting what was said yesterday, I would not want the leagues to be overrun with foreign managers, but a few here and there doesn't do any harm and as I've shown, like them or not, they're doing remarkably well!