Arsenal's uncomfortable pre-season shows no signs of improving as Emmanuel Adebayor was jeered by his own fans during Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Juventus in the Emirates Cup.

Coach Arsene Wenger will want to forget this pre-season friendly in a hurry after David Trezeguet's first half strike punished a subdued display from the young stars he has placed so much faith in.

More worryingly for the Gunners manager, he had to endure the unsettling sensation of hearing his star striker given a hostile reception before kick-off.

Adebayor's revelation that he is set to sign a new improved contract after weeks of speculation that the Togo striker wanted to leave didn't seem to appease the Gunners faithful, who loudly booed his name when the stadium announcer read out the teams.

It has been that kind of close-season at the Emirates, with discontent never far from the surface despite the team's undoubted potential.

The departures of Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva haven't shaken Wenger's belief that Arsenal can mount a sustained challenge for the title.

But while it is far too soon to write off Arsenal, the feeling remains that Wenger's policy of signing gifted young prodigies instead of proven talent will leave Arsenal destined to enthrall the purists rather than carry off major honours again.

Several of the likely key figures in Arsenal's season including Adebayor, William Gallas and new signing Samir Nasri were among the substitutes ahead of Sunday's clash with Real Madrid, while Cesc Fabregas was absent from the squad.

So a bumper crowd of over 60,000 got a glimpse of some of Wenger's starlets in a youthful side including Welsh teenager Aaron Ramsey, a five million pounds signing from Cardiff, and Spanish striker Carlos Vela, the stand-out of Arsenal's pre-season to date.

Ramsey was tidy but relatively anonymous but Jack Wilshere, one of the few English graduates of Wenger's academy, caught the eye early on when the 16-year-old tested Gianluigi Buffon with a fine volley.

Although both teams are preparing for Champions League qualifiers in two weeks time, it was Juventus who played with more intensity.

Trezeguet had the ball in the net in the 35th minute but his header was ruled out for offside.

The Juventus striker appeared to be offside again when he turned in a 37th minute free-kick but this time, while Arsenal's defenders appealed in vain for a flag, Trezeguet's toe-poked effort was allowed to count.

Adebayor came on at half-time, to another mixed reception from crowd, and gave Arsenal's attack a more threatening look.

Emmanuel Eboue shot wide from Adebayor's pass before Wenger sent on France midfielder Nasri for his Emirates bow.

Nasri, a 12 million pounds signing from Marseille, showed a couple of nice touches but it was Adebayor who continued to cause Juventus more concern.

He brought Buffon into action with a towering header from Bacary Sagna's cross, then shot over from close range when he should have hit the target.

It was a miss that summed up his and Arsenal's day.

Ques to Pierce: Is Kobe really the best player in the world?

Ans from Pierce: I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player.

Read more here

The price of GOLD
published: Sunday | August 3, 2008

For sometime now, Usain Bolt has been fighting to step out of the shadows of fellow countryman Asafa Powell, and now that he is the world's fastest man, the 21-year-old Jamaican says it's finally his time to shine.

Bolt, who two months ago supplanted Powell as the world record holder in the 100 metres at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, says he is not surprised at his recent success.

Not surprised

"Well, things have been coming together for a long while now so I'm not really surprised," Bolt, who dominated his career as a junior, said.

"I've been doing well over the years. I guess it's just my time now I would say."

Bolt leads the world in the 100 metres with his world record run of 9.72 seconds and the 200 metres with a career best and national record of 19.67 seconds.

He is expected to leave Beijing with at least one individual gold medal and two if he runs the sprint double. But despite the huge expectations, the lanky sprinter says he feels no pressure.

"The only way you are under pressure is [if] you put yourself under pressure," said the runner nicknamed 'Lightning Bolt'.

Do my best

"I never put my self under any form of pressure because I know every time I go out there I do my best at all times.

"I'm not going out there to lie down and I know they (my challengers) are not doing that either. I am just really going out there to do my thing."

Last Saturday, Bolt landed yet another world-class performance in a slight head wind to win the 200 metres at the London Grand Prix.

The 19.76 seconds winning performance was his third fastest ever half-lap, but was accomplished with sanguine ease.

"I went out with a plan and that's what I did. I just went out there to do some work on my 200 metres because I haven't done a lot on this race," Bolt said.

Only four other men have ever gone faster than Bolt's 19.67, but only one, American Wallace Spearmon, will line up in the event in Beijing next month.

Brazil, led by AC Milan star Ronaldinho, beat Vietnam 2-0 in a friendly on Friday that served as a pre-Olympic warm-up for the South American giants.

Alexandre Pato of AC Milan scored the first goal in the sixth minute before a packed out crowd that included Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi's My Dinh 40,000-seat stadium.

But his second attempt to score in the 46th minute was warded off by Vietnam's goalkeeper, Brazilian-born Fabio Dos Santos who became a naturalised Vietnamese citizen in December.

Vietnam nearly equalised just after half-time, in the 47th minute, when striker Nguyen Viet Thang took a bold shot at goal, which keeper Diego Alves deflected away to safety.

Midway through the half Nguyen Minh Duc shot from long range and hit the post.

In the 81st minute Thiago Neves, voted the best player in the Brazilian league last year, scored Brazil's second goal.

Two minutes later, left-footed Brazilian forward Jo, who recently inked a four-year deal with English Premier League club Manchester City, found the net, but the goal was disqualified as a Vietnamese player got pushed.

Ronaldinho said after the match: 'Tonight the Vietnamese team had a good match. The weather tonight was nice, and I liked this match very much.'

The fight is a little dated but watch the power of Kimbo Slice...

 

Andrew Flintoff's blistering late spell of fast bowling gave England hope of saving the third Test against South Africa on day two yesterday.

South Africa closed on 256 for six wickets for a first-innings lead of 25, but Flintoff produced a masterful spell to dismiss Jacques Kallis and A.B. de Villiers before bad light stopped play at Edgbaston.

Flintoff, who had earlier became the 12th England bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, lit up an otherwise slow day.

First, he bowled Kallis for 64 after seemingly having him leg-before-wicket an over earlier, only for umpire Aleem Dar to turn the appeal down. He then tempted De Villiers on five into a hook, and Ryan Sidebottom held the swirling catch at fine leg.

Best batters

"When you bowl against one of the best batters in the world, it brings the best out of you," Flintoff said of Kallis. "It was up there with one of my best overs. I've missed the buzz of playing Test cricket.

"It means a lot to us to get back into the series and doing well for England. We've scrapped hard after not getting enough runs in the first innings."

Flintoff finished with figures of 4-68 off 26 overs, while Sidebottom and James Anderson picked up a wicket each.

"I don't know if it was the fastest spell, but he made life difficult. The one that got me out was a good delivery," Kallis said. "You have to try and work through it and fight hard. It's not the first time we have faced something like that, but it's tough when someone produces a world-class spell.

"Tomorrow is a key session. We're still in a strong position."

Ashwell Prince was 37 not out and Mark Boucher unbeaten on 11 with England having the best of the final session.

Rain delay

Resuming the day on 38-1 in reply to England's first-innings total of 231 after a 15-minute rain delay, Neil McKenzie and night watchman Paul Harris stubbornly refused to play at anything outside off stump.

In overcast and humid conditions perfectly suited to swing bowling, England's bowlers failed to make a breakthrough until 15 minutes before lunch.

McKenzie was fortunate to be given not out when he edged a ball from Flintoff to Andrew Strauss at first slip when on 29.

The ball appeared to travel low into Strauss' hands but with television replays proving inconclusive, McKenzie was given the benefit of the doubt by the third umpire.

Patiently crafted

Sidebottom eventually made the breakthrough when he brought a delivery back into Harris, who edged a regulation catch to Alastair Cook at third slip to be out for 19 and leave South Africa on 94-2.

McKenzie, playing his 50th Test, brought up his 15th Test 50 with a crisp punch through the covers off Sidebottom just before lunch.

South Africa resumed on 104-2 after lunch, and Paul Collingwood put down a relatively straightforward chance at second slip with McKenzie on 57 off the bowling of Flintoff.

It was left to Anderson to show how it was done, taking a stunning one-handed catch diving forward off his own bowling to dismiss Hashim Amla for nine with only 23 more runs added.

Flintoff eventually had his 200th Test wicket when McKenzie was trapped lbw for a patiently crafted 72, and South Africa was 135-4.

Difficult chance

"Its nice to get past 200 wickets, but it's taken a while," Flintoff said. "I'd rather have done it 15 Tests ago."

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose was unable to hold on to a difficult chance standing up to the stumps to Collingwood with Kallis on 37.

Kallis brought up a 50 partnership with Prince and the pair remained unbeaten to reach 205-4 at tea with dark clouds threatening.

South Africa leads the four-match series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Headingley by 10 wickets last week.

It would appear that a sigh of relief for Jamaica's Reggae Boyz may have come a bit too soon, following a venue change announcement by CONCACAF kingpins Mexico, which will now see the Jamaicans heading to the Azteca Stadium for the October 11 World Cup qualifier.

Originally, it was conveyed that the Boyz would have met Mexico at the Cuauhtemoc Stadium in the City of Puebla, avoiding the dreaded Azteca Stadium, a place that holds some not-so-fond memories for the national team. Sitting 2,240 metres (7,349 ft) above sea level, the Mexico City stadium and its environs is estimated to contain 30 per cent less oxygen than at sea level. Jamaica's highest point, the Blue Mountain peak, has been estimated at 7,402 feet (2,256 m) above sea level.

"Well it was expected every single team in this round of the World Cup qualifiers will rightly be using whatever it is that they have to there advantage," said Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Horace Burrell.

Frightening

"The fact is, the Azteca can be a very frightening place to play. They have almost a perfect record there against everyone, so it's no surprise that they would want to play there.

"However, I have every confidence in both our technical and our medical staff and we will be ready for that encounter. We'll be a lot better mentally prepared so expect a keen battle," he added.

Unfriendly place

Traditionally, the high Mexican altitude has not been a friendly place for the Jamaicans to play. Stretching as far back as the 1965 World Cup qualifiers, the national team found itself at the wrong end of an 8-0 defeat at the Estadio Olympico in Mexico City after being narrowly edged out 3-2 at Jamaica's National Stadium in the first leg. Perhaps even more memorable was the disastrous 6-0 defeat during the 1998 World Cup qualification campaign at the Azteca and a 6-1 defeat in Mexico City in 1993.

In May of last year, FIFA president Sepp Blatter, citing advice from the organisation's medical committee, banned the playing of matches above an altitude of 2,500 meters, which would not have included the Azteca. However, following protest from several South American countries, led by Bolivia whose stadium was affected by the ruling, FIFA suspended the ban in May.

Other venues which would have been affected include Peru (Cuzco at 10,827 feet), Ecuador (Quito, 9,186 feet), Col****ia (Bogota, 8,660 feet) and Mexico (Toluca, 8,750 feet).

Worried that current pollution curbs may not be enough to clean the air, China yesterday announced a raft of emergency measures it would take if skies fail to clear up further for the Olympic Games, including more factory shutdowns and increased restrictions on cars.

The polluted air, one of the biggest worries for Olympic organisers, prompted Beijing to begin drastic measures earlier this month, including pulling half the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads, halting most construction and closing some factories in the capital and surrounding provinces.

The new emergency measures include shutting another 200-plus factories and further restricting vehicles across Beijing, Tianjin city and surrounding Hebei province, according to a public notice posted yesterday on the government's website.

Shut temporarily

In the capital, an additional 105 machinery, chemical and construction materials factories would be shut temporarily. In Tianjin, 130 kilometres (80 miles) east, 56 factories would be closed, while 61 factories would be shut in Hebei.

In Beijing, besides current restrictions banning odd/even licence plates on alternate days, automobiles whose last digit matches the last digit of the date would be banned. Tianjin and Hebei would begin implementing similar odd/even restrictions.

In addition, all construction sites across Beijing would be halted.

The notice said once the games begin August 8, the contingency measures would kick in if authorities decide the air quality had not improved enough.

"If there are unfavourable weather conditions, and the air quality is forecast to not meet the standards in the following 48 hours, the operating commanding centre would suggest the contingency plans be initiated," it said.

Yesterday, the pollution index rose up to 69, but remained within the national standard for acceptable air.

A day earlier, the city's air pollution index had dropped to 44, less than half what it was on Tuesday, and the lowest since July 20 when the first measures came into effect.

A cooling wind and some rain earlier this week helped sweep away pollutants and gave Beijingers a respite from the sultry heat and humidity that had cloaked the city for days.

Desired effect

The measures are having the desired effect, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau, told The Associated Press in an interview.

"The daily data since July 20 shows an improvement in air quality. It reflects the results since we restricted traffic and stopped heavy-polluting factories and construction," he said. "That's why we say the measures have been effective."

A reading below 50 is considered good and between 51 to 100 is moderate. But critics say even moderate levels are still above the World Health Organisation's guidelines for healthy air.

Some experts argue that the recent weather conditions, not the curbs, were largely responsible for the cleaner air.

Athletes participating in the August 8-24 games have raised concerns about the impact of the city's pollution on their health and their performance from the start. Some of the 10,500 Olympic athletes began arriving in large numbers this week _ though others headed to train in neighbouring South Korea, Japan and other places to avoid Beijing's air for as long as possible.

Asafa Powell and his MVP Track Club teammates who will represent Jamaica at the Olympics in Beijing starting next Friday may have to begin their preparations without their usual support staff.

The MVP staff, led by head coach Stephen Francis, is yet to secure Chinese visas, and wont before next Tuesday, arriving in Beijing on Wednesday. With a deadline of August 3 (Sunday) for all athletes to report to the training camp in Tianjin, just outside of Beijing, that leaves three days where the athletes will have to train themselves or workout with one of the appointed coaches.

Deadline extension

MVP president Bruce James is requesting a deadline extension to facilitate his staff.

"They are now flying to Hong Kong to receive their Chinese visas, so when they get their visas they can return to Beijing and get to the camp," James told The Gleaner yesterday.

"We will come to the camp. We will be there. We just can't get there until the 6th," added James referring to Francis, assistant coach Paul Francis masseurs Gavin James and Patrick Watson and assistant manager Andre Edwards.

"We need the athletes to stay with the coaching staff, so they can train with the coaches who have been preparing them for the Olympics. I think it's a reasonable request because we have been asking for this for some time now...this is not something we decided on this morning," added James, who said they were only notified of a national camp after the Olympic Trials, which was held June 27-29.

However, Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president Mike Fennell, stood his ground on the August 3 deadline.

"That's it .. It's not a moving target and August 3 is the deadline for the people to come in (camp)," he said.

Outspoken

When asked what would happen if athletes are not in by the third, Fennell, who earlier approved for the deadline date to be changed from August 1, said: "Then obviously the people don't want to be part of the team."

The outspoken Francis had his own opinion on the issue. He said that the camp was put on by the JOA and the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association to ensure that his athletes do not do well.

"They put on this camp only after hearing in February that we were planning to have our own," Francis was quoted as saying on JamaicaWin.com.

"The athletes believe that their current programme and training (with him) are geared for their success. The athletes are being forced to go to the camp to work with a bunch of high school coaches who have no clue about what they are doing. There is nothing to be achieved there."

James said he sees this mandatory move as a disadvantage.

"The disadvantage now is, you are going to have a group of athletes who will not have the benefit of their coaches and support staff around them for five or six days leading into the Olympics."

With the JOA staying its ground, James said it's left up to the athletes to make the final decision.

"We told our athletes, when they land in Beijing, whosoever want to get off the plane and go, can go, we cannot force you to stay with your coach, who have trained and prepared you so far," he explained while saying nothing would be lost by allowing a deadline extension.

"If it is a matter of relay practice, they will be there by the sixth - track and field doesn't start until the 15th. If it is a matter of having them there for the opening ceremony, the opening ceremony will be on the eighth. If it's about adjusting to the time...that's fine because they are going to be in Hong Kong, which is the same time zone."

MVP athletes selected to the team are Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter, Andre Wellington, Markeino Buckley, Sherone Simpson, Shelly-Ann Frazer, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Melaine Walker and Sherika Williams.

Arsenal can today confirm the signing of midfielder Amaury Bischoff.

The French-born Portugal Under-21 international, 21, was a youngster with French clubs SR Colmar and Strasbourg before moving to Werder Bremen in 2005.

Bischoff, who can play either in the centre of midfield or on the right, was a regular at youth levels for Werder Bremen. His one senior appearance for the Bundesliga club came against Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup in 2007.

Amaury has played for France's Under-18 team, however in 2007 he elected to train with Portugal and to date has appeared for their Under-21 side.

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club would like to welcome Amaury, who will wear squad No 28, and will join up with his team-mates for pre-season when the squad returns from their training camp in Austria.

" France's former World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, who has been diagnosed with a heart defect, announced his retirement from football on Friday."

Read more...

Athletes to be honoured at reggae festival

Jamaican sprinters Veronica Campbell Brown (left) and Usain Bolt will have booths named after them. - File

NEW YORK CITY (CMC)

Organisers of a major reggae festival in New York will honour Caribbean athletes during the Labour Day weekend.

Labour Day is celebrated in the United States on the first Monday in September.

Louie Grant, the Jamaican-born vice president of the New York-based Irie Jam Media, co-producers of the Irie Jamboree Concert, considered the leading reggae festival in North America, said the theme for the 2008 event is 'Celebrating Caribbean Athletes Representing the Region at Beijing '08'.

"This year, we are sending our strongest track and field contingent ever to the games, and I am expecting a good haul of medals from this quality field of athletes," he said.

"Great Caribbean Olympians - such as Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie, Haseley Crawford, Dennis Johnson, Lennox Miller, Merlene Ottey, Bertland Cameron, Ana Quiro, Javier Sotomayor, Anier Garcia, Debbie Ferguson, Ato Boldon, Alberto Juanterino, Deon Hemmings and so many others - have advanced our formidable athletics tradition on the international stage.

"Their legacy ought to be recognised by us, reggae kindred here in the United States, particularly during the Labour Day weekend celebrations."

Incredible athletes

Grant said the decision to honour the Caribbean athletes at Irie Jamboree 2008, came on the heels of Usain Bolt's 100 metres world-record run of 9.72 seconds at a Grand Prix meet here on May 31.

"This year, our flagship summer event, Irie Jamboree, is themed to celebrate our incredible athletes and to give further credence to our articulated commitment of ensuring that the Caribbean does not miss out on the opportunities created by what is its birthright," Grant added.

He pointed out that the VIP and media tents will be named the 'Usain 'Lighting' Bolt VIP Tent' and the 'Veronica Campbell-Brown Media Booth'.

In addition, Grant said the Arts and Craft section at the festival will be named the Caribbean Olympic Village in honour of all Caribbean athletes, who will take part at this year's summer Olympics.

He said top Jamaican reggae stars, such as Tarrus Riley, Coco Tea, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Serani, Bugle, DeMarco and Hero, among others, will headline the reggae acts slated to perform.

Triathlete suspected of bribing lab assistant

VIENNA, Austria (AP)

An Austrian triathlete is being investigated for attempting to bribe a laboratory employee to pass a doping test, local media reported yesterday.

The Kurier newspaper reported that Lisa Huetthaler, 24, offered an employee in the Seibersdorf laboratory euro20,000 (US$31,150) on May 21 to guarantee that her "B" sample didn't return with the same result as her initial positive for EPO.

Erich Habitzl, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office in the city of Wiener Neustadt, was cited by the Austria Press Agency as saying that an investigation was under way.

Huetthaler's lawyer maintains his client's innocence.

Earlier this month, Austria's parliament passed a toughened anti-doping law.

Beijing pollution index shows improvement

BEIJING (AP)

Beijing's pollution levels dropped Wednesday to less than half of the previous day's, the lowest reading since authorities began pulling cars off the road and shutting down factories to address athletes' concerns about air quality ahead of the Olympic Games.

A cooling wind and some rain helped sweep away pollutants and gave Beijingers a respite from the sultry heat and humidity that had cloaked the city for days.

The polluted skies over the Olympic host city have been one of the biggest worries for Olympics organisers. The concerns prompted Beijing officials to institute drastic measures earlier this month, included pulling half the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads, halting most construction and closing some factories in the capital and surrounding provinces.

Desired effect

The measures are having the desired effect, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau, told The Associated Press in an interview.

"The daily data since July 20 shows an improvement in air quality. It reflects the results since we restricted traffic and stopped heavy- polluting factories and construction," he said. "That's why we say the measures have been effective."

Athletes participating in the August 8-24 games have raised concerns about the impact of the city's pollution on their health and their performance from the start. Some of the 10,500 Olympic athletes began arriving in large numbers this week - though others headed to train in neighbouring South Korea, Japan and other places to avoid Beijing's air for as long as possible.

A World Bank study found China is home to 16 of the 20 worst cities for air quality. Three-quarters of the water flowing through urban areas is unsuitable for drinking or fishing.

Some experts argue that weather, not the curbs, is largely to thank for the cleaner air. And Du himself said if the air quality continues to be a problem in the coming days, Beijing officials will consider contingency plans to expand the traffic and factory emission cutbacks.

"If weather conditions are not typical, we can strengthen the measures and enforce them more strictly," he said.

Barcelona must release Messi for Olympics - FIFA

Argentina's Lionel Messi. - File

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP)

FIFA ruled yesterday that clubs are obliged to release players aged 23 or under for the Beijing Olympics, clearing the way for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina despite opposition from FC Barcelona.

Slim Aloulou, a Tunisian judge on FIFA's player status committee, said the release of under-23 players was "mandatory for all clubs".

"Taking part in the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for all athletes of any sporting discipline," FIFA said in a statement. "It would not be justifiable to prevent any player younger than 23 from participating in such an event if his representative team had qualified."

Barcelona said in a statement it would appeal the decision.

"FC Barcelona will shortly present before the CAS, or Court of Arbitration for Sport, an appeal against this decision in which it will request the ruling be rescinded and that proceedings be completed with the maximum speed possible," the club said.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he would be meeting with Messi to discuss the matter.

"At this stage we are at an impasse. We are going to meet with Messi to take the most convenient decision for both sides," Laporta said. "I understand our actions to be very respectable within a sporting background. If the CAS's decision is also favourable then our aspirations will have to be accepted."

Mucho Gusto all the way for BGLC Trophy

Iraqis thrilled over lifting of Olympic ban

Basil Abdul Mahdi, senior adviser from the Iraqi Ministry of Youth (left), and Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh (second left), speak as they arrive for a meeting to try to salvage Iraq's participation in the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, in front of the entrance of the International Olympic Committee headquarters, Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday. - AP

BAGHDAD (AP)

Iraq's Olympic team was thrilled yesterday at the news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked a ban on their country's participation in the Games, even though three of the original seven athletes meant to compete in Beijing remained shut out.

The IOC decision to rescind its suspension of Iraq's Olympic Association came late Tuesday after last-minute talks during which an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its national Olympic committee under international observation.

IOC officials said Iraq would be able to send two track and field athletes to the Games, as the deadline for their entry into competitions had not yet passed.

Men's rowing double

Iraq missed last week's deadline to enter athletes for the rowing, judo, archery and weightlifting competitions.

But yesterday, the International Rowing Federation announced that the Iraq men's rowing double will also be allowed to participate in Beijing after all.

"We called the IOC and asked if we could have the rowers back and the answer just came through. We're very happy," said Matt Smith, the rowing federation's executive director.

The two rowers, Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur, were allowed back in the men's double sculls because their places had not been given to competitors from other countries, Smith said.

"We were overwhelmed with pleasure over the news," said Jebur.

Iraq has only one bronze medal since its first appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1948.

Lives of athletes

But in a country where violence has claimed the lives of athletes, coaches and staff, the IOC's rescinding of the ban amounted to an invaluable gift.

"Yesterday's decision is an upbeat one. ... It brought Iraq back to the international sports gathering," said Dr Talib Faisal, head of the Iraqi Track and Field Association. "We are looking forward to take part in the Olympics."

Dezso Dobor, a spokesman for the International Weightlifting Federation, said an Iraqi competitor might be put on standby in case an athlete from another country drops out. Ali Adnan, an Iraqi athlete in archery, potentially has a chance to compete as well.

"If someone withdraws from the competition for whatever reason then Ali will be the first person to get the place," said Tom Dielen, secretary-general of the International Archery Federation.

One Iraqi athlete in judo also stays outside the Games.

The IOC suspended Iraq in May, citing political interference in the country's national Olympic committee, which the government had dissolved over allegations of corruption.

"We hope that there will be no more black days for the Iraqi sports," said Samir Sadiq al-Moussawi, head of the Iraqi Judo Association, yesterday.

Rain forces no-result between Barbados, Jamaica

WATERFORD, Barbados (CMC)

Jamaica, despite posting a challenging total due to an attacking hundred from Horace Miller, had to settle for a share of the spoils against Barbados in their rain-ruined TCL West Indies Under-19 limited-overs match yesterday.

Miller smashed 12 fours and a six in an attacking knock of 101 from only 86 balls, as defending champions Jamaica raced to 196 for five in 34 overs before their innings was curtailed by rain in the second-round match at the C****ermere School.

Set a revised target of 200 off 30 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis method, Barbados were 61 for three in 10.2 overs when rain, which had interrupted play three times before, finally ended play an hour earlier than scheduled.

Final match

The no-result pushed Barbados to six points, while Jamaica gained two points and would need to defeat the Windward Islands in their final match on Friday to secure a place in the final.

Sent in to bat, Jamaica got off to a rollicking start and had raced to 119 for three in 16 overs when the second shower stopped play.

Miller benefited from a chance on 41, when he was dropped by Rashidi Boucher at slip off leg-spinner Dario Vaughan, and went on to flay the bowling to all parts of the field.

He posted his 50 off 38 balls with five fours and a six and after play resumed following an early lunch interval, he went on to share a fourth-wicket stand of 62 runs in only 5.4 overs with captain Andre Creary, who made 41 not out.

Trinidad beat Haiti 2-0 in friendly

Trinidad and Tobago's Keyeno Thomas. - File

Haiti enjoyed long periods of possession in the first half but wasted a good chance when Sony Alcenat's right cross was headed wide by Preux Leonel in front of the goal.

The second half was more of the same until midfielder Chris Birchall marked his return to Trinidad by sweeping a 61st minute free kick to an unmarked Thomas, who headed the ball past Haiti goalkeeper Fenelon Gabart into the right corner.

Free kick

In the 68th, Birchall floated another free kick to the back post where Thomas headed it across goal for Glen to chest the ball over the line.

It was the Soca Warriors' third successive 2-0 win after friendly victories over Guyana and Netherlands Antilles.

Both sides are preparing for the semi-final round of World Cup qualification. Trinidad face Cuba, Guatemala and the United States in their group while Haiti take on Suriname, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

The sides will meet in another friendly, in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, on August 10, before Trinidad visit Cuba, and Haiti host Suriname in their opening World Cup fixtures on August 20.

Carles Puyol, Jeffren and Bojan Krkic all scored to give FC Barcelona their third successive victory of pre-season as they defeated Fiorentina in a testimonial for Artemio Franchi in the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The host team put up stern resistance, but like Hibernian and Dundee United before them, they were unable to cope with the strong display of football that Pep Guardiola's side produced throughout the encounter. With a strong performance up front and a solid game by the Blaugrana back four la Viola were unable to produce many clear-cut chances.

Dem american bwoy deh cant play the big side

Young Guns on target at Stuttgart

Barcelona could take Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi on tour to Italy and the United States later this week even if FIFA orders the Spanish club to release him for the Olympic Games, a newspaper reported Monday.

FIFA are expected to issue a ruling on Tuesday to settle a dispute between the Argentine Football Federation, who have called on the 21-year-old for the Olympics, and Barcelona who want to keep the player for early Champions League matches in August.

Barcelona-based sports daily El Mundo Deportivo reported Monday that the world football governing body will likely side with the Argentines but the Catalan club will then take the dispute to the sport's highest appeal body, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In the meantime Barcelona will take Messi on upcoming tours of Italy and the United States, it added.

Barcelona heads to Italy on Wednesday where they will face Fiorentina in a friendly before heading to the United States two days later.

The squad will face Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara in Chicago un Sunday and the New York Red Bulls three days later in New York.

Messi was the star of the two friendlies which Barcelona played during their pre-season training camp last week in Scotland.

He contributed one goal during their 6-0 win over Scottish side Hibs on Thursday and hit a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Dundee United two days later.

FIFA have insisted that the release of under-23 players is mandatory but that clubs can refuse to release over-age players.

The Olympic football tournament takes place from August 6-23 but Barcelona have a Champions League qualifier on either August 12 or 13.

Toronto FC acquired striker Chad Barrett yesterday afternoon.

Officially, this time.

Barrett, who led the Chicago Fire in scoring in the first half of the season, has been with TFC since the weekend and even travelled with them to Monday night's game in Salt Lake City, but didn't actually become part of the team until yesterday.

That's when 36-year-old striker Brian McBride signed his contract with the Chicago Fire, allowing Major League Soccer to complete the paperwork that finalized the McBride-Barrett trade Chicago and Toronto agreed on last week.

A signed contract from McBride was the last obstacle in a deal that took nearly two months to close.

In late May McBride, who has 30 goals with the U.S. national team, announced he was returning to the U.S. after four years in England playing with Fulham. A Chicago-area native, McBride wanted to play for the Fire, but TFC owned his MLS rights and two month of sometimes tense, often stagnant negotiations followed.

Then last week the two teams agreed on a deal that would send McBride's rights to Chicago for 23-year-old Barrett, a first-round draft pick in 2009 and allocation money.

But because the trade involved McBride's rights and not the player himself, he actually needed to sign with the league to make it official.

Though he acknowledges it took longer than usual to acquire the player's signature, McBride's brother and agent, Matt McBride, denied suggestions that the Fire purposely delayed signing McBride hoping to inconvenience conference rival TFC.

Instead, he said the order in which the deal was made slowed down its closing.

Normally a player in McBride's position would first sign a contract with MLS, and then the league would assign him to the team that held his rights.

In this case, Matt McBride points out, the two teams involved made reached an agreement first, and then sought a signed contract from Brian McBride, slowing down the trade process.

Right now McBride is in Hong Kong with the U.S. Olympic team as they prepare for the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how close 35-year-old Scottish striker Paul Dickov is to signing with TFC.

The former Manchester City forward is mulling offers from Toronto, Blackpool and Leicester City.

Yesterday the Blackpool Gazette reported that Dickov was set to join TFC after rejecting Blackpool's offer, but a few hours later the BBC's website reported that Dickov was still negotiating with Leicester City.

Spurs ready to parade Bentley

David Bentley has completed his £15million move from Blackburn to Tottenham and will be unveiled on Thursday as Juande Ramos' latest signing.
Bentley, the 23-year-old England winger, has agreed a deal that could run for up to six years and could make his Spurs debut at the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament in Rotterdam this weekend.

Rivals Arsenal, Bentley's former club, stand to receive a percentage of the deal as part of the terms of his transfer to Ewood Park in 2006 after an initial loan spell.

The winger made just nine appearances under Arsene Wenger but will join Sol Campbell as the only high-profile players to feature for Arsenal and Spurs in the modern era.

It looks set to be a productive few days for Spurs after Andrei Arshavin's representative, Dennis Lachter, claimed a deal should be concluded for the Russian playmaker "in the next five days".

According to Lachter, personal terms have been agreed and a deal could be struck by the weekend if the two clubs can agree a fee.

He told Sky Sports News: "I am very optimistic about this deal but it is not easy - as usual with Russian clubs.

"The next few days will see if he can confirm this move to Spurs.


"Andrei likes the way Juande Ramos is going to play at Tottenham and this is the main point of our decision - not only the money but the desire of the manager to have the player."

Of his hopes for when the deal might be completed, Lachter added: "I hope in the next five days, maximum."

Arshavin, who caught the eye at Euro 2008, told Sport Express in Russia: "I have already taken a final decision. It only remains to finalise it with the club management."

Bentley is the latest of the radical changes at Spurs this summer, with Heurelho Gomes replacing Paul Robinson as first-choice goalkeeper.

Luka Modric will be the focal point of the midfield after arriving from Dinamo Zagreb, while Giovani dos Santos has been bought from Barcelona and can play as alongside the Croatia international or as a support striker.

Dos Santos will take the number 17 which was occupied last season by Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has struggled to make an impact since arriving from Hertha Berlin.

Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio, Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Anthony Gardner have all been allowed to leave, and Spurs will listen to offers for Paul Stalteri, Young-Pyo Lee, Ricardo Rocha and Hossam Ghaly.

Meanwhile, midfielder Jermaine Jenas and centre-back Michael Dawson have signed one-year contract extensions, keeping them at White Hart Lane until 2013.

Tappa not ready for comeback - 'We tried, but it was tough for him' - Simoes

Arshavin set to join Bentley at Spurs

Sweet home, Chicago, indeed for McBrideUpdated: July 30, 2008, 4:10 PM EST 16 comments add this RSS blog email print BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) - The Chicago Fire acquired former United States striker Brian McBride from Toronto FC on Wednesday for Chad Barrett, its first-round pick in the 2009 draft and future considerations.

The clubs had been working since last week to finalize the deal for McBride, a native of the northwestern Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights.

"I am excited to be joining the Chicago Fire for many reasons. One of the most important of those is Chicago is my hometown," said McBride, who spent the last 4 1/2 years at Fulham in the English Premier League.

McBride, 36, played eight years in Major League Soccer for the Columbus Crew before going to England, where he was on loan to two clubs before joining the London side. He finished his contract in May after helping the club avoid relegation, saying he and his family wanted to return to the United States.

Before his first MLS stint, McBride played briefly for a second-tier German club, but returned to the States when MLS was formed.

Toronto was assigned McBride's rights in MLS through an allocation process, but McBride expressed interest in returning to his hometown club.

"Brian is an outstanding player," Fire owner and chairman Andrew Hauptman said. "His tremendous skill and dedication to the sport are an inspiration to us all. We're thrilled we are able to bring him back to Chicago and MLS, and I am confident he will have an important impact on the team."

McBride was a seven-time All-Star in eight seasons with the Crew, with 62 goals and 45 assists. He then moved to Fulham, where he started 111 games and scored 40 goals, 32 in Premier League matches. He was Fulham's player of the year in 2005 and 2006, and was the team's captain last season.

McBride missed much of his final season in England after dislocating his kneecap last August. But his return in February galvanized Fulham, as the club avoided relegation with four wins in its last five games.

McBride currently is in Asia with the U.S. Olympic team. Though he retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, he is one of the three "overage" players on the U.S. team for the Beijing Games, serving as captain.

Arsenal signs Bischoff from BremenUpdated: July 30, 2008, 12:16 PM EST 99 comments add this RSS blog email print LONDON (AP) - Arsenal has signed Portugal under-21 midfielder Amaury Bischoff from Werder Bremen. The French-born Bischoff, who can play either in the center of midfield or on the right, played just one game for Bremen last season. He will wear No. 28 for the Gunners - indicating that Bischoff may be a squad player rather than a regular first choice. Arsenal did not give any financial details of the transfer. The 21-year-old Bischoff started his career with spells at French clubs SR Colmar and Strasbourg before moving to Bremen in 2005. He played for France's under-18 team before switching his allegiance to Portugal. His only appearance for the Bundesliga team came against Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup in 2007. Arsenal, which has also signed France international Samir Nasri and Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey since the end of last season, said Bischoff will join up with the squad for preseason training when it returns from a camp in Austria.

Part 1

 

Part 2

Duel Knockout - Click here for this weeks top video clips

Olympic
Alls fair in love and war, or so were told, but at the Olympic Games there are rules and they are to be adhered to at all times. Obviously not everybody agrees with this and theres always a few who try to bend the rules a little and some who just flout them completely.

Marathon 1904

Fred Lorz crossed the finish line in the marathon at the 1904 Olympic Games in first place. However, all was not as it appeared to be. Lorz had been shattered after nine miles of the race, so he hopped into his managers car for the next 11 miles until the vehicle broke down and he was forced back onto his feet. He ran into the stadium and crossed the finish line, only admitting hed not run the entire race after spectators brought it to the attention of the administrators.

The Press 'sisters'

Between them, Irina and Tamara Press, sisters from the USSR, won five Olympic gold medals and one silver at the games in Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964. Accusations were levelled at the pair that they were not in fact sisters but brothers and their genders came under intense scrutiny. In 1968, when gender verification tests were introduced, the sisters retired from the sporting stage.

Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall

Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall became the first athlete ever to be disqualified from the Olympic Games for using a banned substance alcohol. The Swedish modern pentathlete allegedly had two beers to settle his nerves before the shooting event at the 1968 games in Mexico City.

Boris Onishchenko

Another modern pentathlete to fall foul of the Olympic rules is Boris Onishchenko. At the 1976 games in Montreal, during a fencing bout with Great Britains pentathlon captain Jim Fox, Onishchenko was caught cheating using a doctored weapon, which registered hits without the foil touching anything at all. Needless to say he was disqualified.

Ben Johnson

The most famous Olympic controversy of them all is surely the case of Ben Johnson and the 100-metres at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Johnson took gold, beating Carl Lewis and Britains Linford Christie, but was later stripped of his medal after he tested positive for steroids. He was also banned for life.


Andreea Rducan

A 16-year-old Romanian became the very first gymnast to be stripped of a medal for testing positive for a banned substance. Andreea Rducan lost her gold medal after she failed a doping test at the 2000 Olympics. She and her team maintained the drug was an over-the-counter cold remedy pill that had not impacted her performance in any way.


Jim Thorpe

At the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, American Jim Thorpe won gold medals in two events: pentathlon and decathlon. However, he had his medals taken away when it emerged that he had been paid for playing two seasons of minor league baseball before competing in the games meaning he officially no longer qualified as an amateur. His medals were eventually restored, but not until 30 years after his death.


Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz

Polands Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz landed himself in hot water at the Moscow games in 1980 after he won the pole vault gold medal. The Russian crowd had booed and hissed the Pole during the competition, in an effort to give their own competitor an advantage. After he claimed his victory, Kozakiewicz made a defiant but rude gesture at the crowd. The Russian ambassador in Poland called for him to be stripped of his medal, but Kozakiewicz had the full support of his nation.


Roy Jones

Roy Jones dominated the light-middleweight boxing competition at the South Korea Olympics in 1988 and didnt lose a single round on his way to the final, where he met local boy Park Si-Hun. To most people watching, Jones dominated the final too, but the judges disagreed and handed the gold to the Korean. In the final round, Jones landed 86 punches to Parks 32, but the decision still went against him. The embarra**ed Korean champion allegedly apologised to Jones.


1972 basketball final


The US basketball team was as close to invincible as a team can get. Going into the 1972 Olympic final in Munich against Russia, they hadnt been beaten in 63 Olympic matches. With Cold War tensions high between the two nations, it was never going to be the friendliest of contests, but nobody could have predicted the controversy that unfolded. As the US celebrated a 50-49 victory, the Russians claimed to have called a time out. An extra three seconds were added to the clock during which time the Russians failed to score. A further three seconds were then added as officials said that the clock was still in the process of being reset when the referee put the ball in play. This time the Russians snatched victory. The US filed an immediate protest following the game and the International Amateur Basketball Federation went into a secret session and delayed awarding the gold medal. In the end, the Russians were awarded the gold, the US boycotted the awards ceremony and the silver medals remain unclaimed to this day

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi says he will defy his Spanish club's orders and join up with Argentina's Olympic squad this week.

The Argentina international has been at the centre of a tug of war between club and country with Barcelona trying to retain him for their Champions League qualifyier tie in August.

Messi, speaking before a FIFA judge declared that clubs were under an obligation to release their under-23 players for Beijing, said: 'If FIFA say I should be there then I'll go without waiting for CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) ruling.'

Barca have announced they will contest FIFA's ruling to CAS.

Messi added: 'If CAS say that I have to return then I'll come back but for the moment I want to be with my country and my teammates.'

The player has until Friday to link up with coach Sergio Batista's Argentina's Olympic squad in training in Japan.

Messi's stance was backed by the FIFA-appointed judge's ruling confirming clubs were obliged to release players aged 23 for the Olympics.

A statement issued by world football's governing body FIFA confirmed the judge of the Players' Status Committee, Slim Aloulou, agreed with FIFA's previous ruling that it was 'mandatory' for players to be released for Olympic duty.

The judge was called to rule on the matter after Werder Bremen, Schalke and Barcelona questioned FIFA's stance as the Olympics do not appear on FIFA's official calendar.

Bremen and Schalke are unhappy with the inclusions of Diego and Rafinha, respectively, in the Brazil squad.

CAS will now have the final say on the matter after Bremen, Schalke and Barca filed complaints.

New coach Pep Guardiola had said Eto'o was not needed for a fifth season at the Catalan club. However, the Cameroon striker has kept his place in the lineup during the team's tour of Scotland and Barcelona appears no closer to signing Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

"(Eto'o) is someone with a lot of character and we want him to be with us," Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure said Tuesday. "He's going through a difficult moment but he's a very positive person and he's been very professional."

On Monday, club president Joan Laporta left the door open for Eto'o to stay at the Camp Nou with few transfer offers coming in.

"What is certain is that Eto'o has a contract with FC Barcelona ... and he has had a great attitude throughout the preseason," Laporta said. "The physical, motivational and sporting recovery of the player will play a big part in the final decision."

Sporting director Txi Begiristain will make that decision, Laporta added.

Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta have also recently supported the 27-year-old Eto'o.

Barcelona came off a second straight trophyless season to finish third in La Liga - its worse placing for five years

Five-star performance - Jamaicans rule sprints, hurdles at Monaco Grand Prix

Reds and Villa 'agree Barry fee'

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has slammed a report suggesting he is considering a move to Real Madrid.

Fabregas was a key member of the Spain squad that won Euro 2008 and according to a report last weekend in Spanish sports newspaper Marca he was quoted as saying he might move to the Bernabeu, especially if Arsenal did not win a trophy this season.

But in a statement the 21-year-old told Arsenal's official website here Monday: 'I have not spoken to any media so it's frustrating to read quotes that I have supposedly said about my future

'I have spent the summer relaxing with my family, friends and girlfriend and I return to training with Arsenal tomorrow (Tuesday).

'I think that some people are just trying to make mischief but my intentions are very clear.

'I am happy here at Arsenal, my future is with Arsenal and the priority is to achieve success and win trophies at Arsenal.'

Brazil beats Singapore in Olympic warmup 

Diouf makes Black Cats move

Liverpool signs Keane from Spurs
 Liverpool has signed Robbie Keane from Tottenham on a four-year deal, completing one of the biggest Premier League transfers this offseason.
Liverpool announced the deal Monday after the Ireland captain passed a medical examination with the club. The teams agreed to a transfer fee over the weekend, rumored to be about 18 million pounds (US$35.8 million; 22.8 million), after the striker decided to accept an offer to join the club he supported as a boy.

Liverpool needed to strengthen its attacking options following the departure of England striker Peter Crouch to Portsmouth, and manager Rafael Benitez hopes Keane will forge a potent partnership with Fernando Torres.

The 28-year-old Keane has been with Spurs for six years, his longest ever spell with a team following stints with Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan and Leeds, and last season became the 15th player to hit 100 goals for the club.

He helped Tottenham win the League Cup last season with victory over Chelsea, with his lengthy and enthusiastic celebratory jig on the Wembley pitch further cementing his status as a popular player with the Spurs fans.

Ireland's record scorer with 33 goals, Keane had two years remaining on his Tottenham contract.

Tottenham also said it would not pursue a complaint it filed to the Premier League about comments made by Benitez during the club's pursuit of Keane.

Apparently unhappy with the West Indies Cricket Boards selection policy of experimenting with young *lo** in the recent series against Australia, Chris Gayle is considering stepping down as the West Indies captain.

WICB Chief Executive Donald Peters said he was aware of Gayles intention to step down from captaincy though the Board was yet to receive an official word from the swashbuckling opener.

I am aware he (Gayle) is considering not making himself available for the captaincy, Peters told Postinor.

If Gayle decides to step down, the West Indies will have to appoint a new captain for Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September.

Gayle had questioned the selection of several youngsters for the last two matches of the home ODI series against Australia, which it lost 0-5. The Caribbeans also lost the three-Test series 0-2.

Gayle has had mixed results as captain, winning two Tests out of five and seven ODIs out of 17. He led the West Indies to two series wins in ODIs, including an away victory against England last year, and against the touring Sri Lankans recently.

He led the side to a surprise win in the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg only to lose the next two matches and the series. His other Test win came against Sri Lanka here to level the two match series.

Gayle has had to cope with injuries during his tenure, sometimes struggling to keep fit for an entire tour. He returned home from the tour of South Africa after suffering a thumb and hamstring injury. Later, a groin niggle ruled him out of the Indian Premier League. 

Tevez scored 19 goals in 48 matches on loan last season to help United to the Premier League and Champions League titles, but British papers reported Saturday that the club now wants to keep him permanently.

Papers including The Sun, The Mirror, The Mail and The Guardian were agreed that United will break the record of 30 million pounds paid by Chelsea for Andriy Shevchenko in 2006.

The 24-year-old Tevez joined United a year ago after scoring the goals that saved West Ham from relegation in 2006/07.

He was initially on a two-year loan because of the complicated nature of the transfer - his registration was claimed by a private company rather than a club - but United also negotiated a clause to give it first refusal on signing him permanently.

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, featuring only four starters from the squad which marched easily through their early round World Cup qualifying tie last month, will tackle near full strength El Salvador in a friendly football international this evening at the Pizza Hut Park here.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has been named captain for the 6p.m. kickoff in the absence of Ricardo Gardner who, along with several regular senior players, are currently playing with their clubs overseas.

Ricketts is expected to be joined by defender Jermaine Taylor and midfielders Andy Williams and Evan Taylor from the 94th FIFA-ranked team which trounced The Bahamas by a 13-0 aggregate over two games in Jamaica. Fullback O'Brian Woodbine, who appeared as a substitute in both qualifying legs, is also expected to start.

However, the squad will be bolstered by the inclusion of newcomer Omar Cummings, who plays for the Colorado Rapids of the United States Major League Soccer (MLS).

Technical director Rene Simoes is keen to see an international performance from the speedy forward who has four goals and two assists for his club this season.

"This is a player who I have interest in," Simoes said of Cummings this week.

Williams, Cummings and midfielder Wolry Wolfe, who joined the squad from Trinidad, represent the thin overseas-based contingent in a probable Jamaica starting team. Most of this evening's players are contracted in Jamaica. That was not the case against The Bahamas, when the bulk of the squad flew in from England and the U.S.

Yet Simoes appeared confident his crop of local players can get the job done. Unlike when he first took charge of the Reggae Boyz in the mid-1990s, he said, this batch is better equipped.

"This group is very interesting, so much more mature than the group in 1994," Simoes said from his Texas hotel, prior to the team's training session on Thursday. "In reality they are more professional."

Team management insists all players are healthy and ready to go. A delay in receiving a U.S. visa caused midfielder JeVaughn Watson to join the Boyz late in Texas. While El Salvador chose a morning session yesterday, Jamaica trained in the evening closer to match time.

Simoes is hoping that the players this evening, apart from individually seeking to catch his eye with CONCACAF semi-final qualifiers starting next month with Canada on August 20 in mind, also show cohesion and willingness to execute his game plan.

"What I want is my team to understand the model of game I want," he said. "I have in my mind what I want. It is for them (the players) to carry that out. (But) I am pleased so far."

LAB RAT

El Salvador are unlikely to be willing lab rat for any Simoes experiment. Sources from the Central American team's camp is that only one major star - Eliseo Quintanilla - will be missing from the 117th FIFA-ranked 21-man squad. He is said to be involved in preseason training with his club in Costa Rica.

El Salvador should also be match sharp, having played to a 0-0 draw on Sunday against Guatemala in Los Angeles. Jamaica have not played a senior international game since The Bahamas on June 18.

On Thursday, Simoes indicated that he would likely use a 4-4-2 formation this evening, similar to what is expected from El Salvador. But the Brazilian could also choose a 4-5-1, with Cummings starting as the lone striker and a stacked midfield featuring Williams, Wolfe, Evan Taylor, Ricardo Cousins and Hugh Howell. Jermaine Taylor and Adrian Reid should anchor the central defence with Woodbine and Lance Laing as the fullbacks.

It is not clear how long influential midfielder Williams will play, as his club Real Salt Lake is scheduled for an MLS fixture on Monday.

Today's game will be the 16th meeting between the two countries, with Jamaica recording six wins, drawing four and losing five. The last time the teams met in November, Jamaica beat El Salvador 3-0 at the National Stadium.

SQUADS:

Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, O'Brian Woodbine, Jermaine Taylor, Adrian Reid, Lance Laing, Keniel Moodie, Nathan Koo-Boothe, Ricardo Cousins, Hugh Howell, JeVaughn Watson, Eric Vernan, John-Ross Doyley, Evan Taylor, Kavin Bryan, Keammar Daley and James Thomas.

El Salvador: Juan Jose Gomez, Miquel Montes, Rolando Torres, Marvin Gonzalez, Manuel Salazar, Alfredo Pacheco, Shawn Martin, Ramon Sanchez, Salvador Coreas, Christian Castillo, Rudis Corrales, Williams Reyes, Ramon Floras, Jonathan Barrios, Rodolfo Zelaya, Emerson Umana, Osael Romero, Jose Martinez, Oscar Jiminez, Luis Anaya and Alex Escobar.

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.

Lionel Messi scored a second half hat-trick for FC Barcelona as they ended their stay in Scotland with another emphatic win, this time against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday evening.

The Blaugrana against showed that they are in good form at this early stage of the campaign as Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o also scored to add to the Argentinian's three goals. After putting six past Hibernian in midweek, Pep Guardiola's team managed just one less in their second encounter thanks to a powerful performance after the interval. Messi came off the bench and had a huge effect on proceedings and showed once again just why he is seen as some important to Barcelona's plans.

Early chances

Barça created four chances in the opening 25 minutes with Henry testing the keeper with the clearest effort, but he was denied by Lukasz Zaluska. Until that moment, the host side had little to offer going forward, but with their first meaningful push they took the lead when Prince Buaben was picked out at he far post and he was able to meet the ball and angle a head home much to the delight of the Dundee United supporters.

Immediate reaction

It did not take long for the Blaugrana to muster a reply and they were level with two minutes after a mix-up in the Dundee United defence allowed Henry to take one shot that was parried and then pounce on the rebound to fire the ball into the far corner of the net. The Scottish outfit continued to look to move in behind the Barça defence, but it was Guardiola's team that had the better opportunities with Henry, Pedrito, Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen all going close.

Barça take control

At the start of the second period, Barcelona made seven changes and they had the desired effect as the visitors took command of the encounter before the hour mark was reached. Messi was one of those to make his entrance at the break and he took just minutes to put Barça ahead for the first time after a clever run. In the 60th minute Eto'o staked a claim for a place in the squad next term with the third after he capitalised on another defensive mistake in the Dundee United rearguard.

Messi hat-trick

The best was yet to come as Barça continued to change things around and Dundee United pushed up field, Eto'o and Messi c****ined well to open up the home team's back four and allow the Argentinian to slot home his second and Barça's fourth of the afternoon. Three minutes later and Messi completed his hat-trick after he was in the right place at the right time to react to a save from the keeper after Eto'o's shot had been parried.

Barcelona's emphatic victory was further proof of the confidence that is running through the squad and rounded off the trip to Scotland in style, making it eleven goals in Barça's and just one conceded.

The 1-5 end has left in evidence the sign that has had the party and has permitted to the Barça to finalize the phase in Scotland with an exciting balance: eleven goals to favour and one in against, in two parties



-- Edited by SLICE BREAD at 21:10, 2008-07-26

USAIN BOLT'S coach is worried that going for the sprint double in the Beijing Olympics could hurt the 100-metre world record holder's chances of winning his preferred 200 race.

The Jamaican sprinter has said he wants to compete in both, but is leaving the final decision to coach Glen Mills.

"You have to ensure that you are not going into it just because there is a chance of glory, you have to go there knowing that your chance is solid," Mills said after Bolt's 200 victory yesterday at the London Grand Prix. "I think he will get a medal in both, it's a question of winning."

Bolt's 19.76 was the fastest 200 ever run in Britain, and he beat Wallace Spearmon of the United States by more than half a second.

"I definitely want the double in Beijing, but my coach makes all my decisions for me," Bolt said.

"I'm just waiting on him to decide. I'm definitely ready - I've been ready for two months now.

"People may try to pressure me, but I don't pressure myself because I look to do my best all the time."

Mills deems the 200 a much easier event for Bolt, as Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay have more experience in big events in the 100.

"The 200 is the easier race based on his performances so far - it's not as competitive as the 100," Mills said. "There's always the temptation to take what you are sure of. If you run the 100 you have to be consistent with your technique."

Some inconsistency

The 21-year-old Bolt showed some of his inconsistency on Tuesday, when his weak start at the DN Galan in Stockholm saw him lose to Powell by one-hundredth of a second.

"In the 100m you need to be an experienced person at this level," Mills said. "Things that happen to you like at Stockholm - getting left at the start and he just got up and run and abandoned all strategy - hat is the response of an inexperienced runner.

"The 100 we need to work out and master and we have 15 days to declare to the (Jamaican) association."

Bolt embarked on the 100 to improve his speed in 200, but it "took off like a roller coaster" after setting the world record of 9.72 on May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74.

Bolt, who skipped Friday's 100 at Crystal Palace, said his confidence wasn't jolted by Tuesday's defeat and is ready to take on Powell and Gay.

"It's worth more to beat the best to become the best," he said.

No temptation

Mills, who once coached doping-tainted British sprinter Dwain Chambers, said he thinks Bolt will never be tempted to enhance his performances with illegal substances.

"We can't shield him, he has to shield himself, and we try to educate him on proper values," he said. "Most of the athletes who have got into trouble have gone abroad to train or go to school. We believe our athletes don't need it. We are talented enough."

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=-dm-ds5rRaM]SPRINT MARVEL Usain Bolt, of Jamaica, as well as female compatriots Veronica Campbell-Brown and Melaine Walker headlined the performances on the second and final day of the London Grand Prix yesterday.

World 100 metres record holder Bolt ran the fastest 200 metres in Britain when he clocked 19.76 seconds, while Campbell-Brown ran a sizzling 10.87 to win the 100 dash and finish two hundredths of a second outside of her lifetime best.

Meanwhile, Walker signalled her form with another solid win in the women's 400m hurdles.

Stadium record

Bolt covered the field, including 2006 World Champion-ship bronze medallist Wallace Spearmon of the United States for the second fastest time in the world this year, behind his own 19.67, and smashed the stadium record held by Tyson Gay of the United States by eight hundredths of a second.

The giant Jamaican started strongly, and ran the bend superbly before extending down the straight to pull away comfortably from the opposition.

He even had time to ease up in the last 20m and look across at the crowd, before he crossed the line as relaxed as a man on a training run, leaving Spearmon to take second in 20.27 with Ireland's Paul Hession third a tenth slower.

"It was pretty good," said Bolt. "I came out here with a plan and I executed it. No doubt my coach will tell me what I did wrong.

"I think I could do well in both the 100m and 200m at the Olympics. But my coach hasn't made a bad decision in five years, so if he says I should only do one, I'll only do one. I just came here to work on my 200m and I did that. I'm looking for consistency and to do what my coach says. I'm managing to do that right now."

Reason to cheer

Campbell-Brown gave the strong Jamaican presence in the crowd another reason to cheer when she prevailed over a high-quality field.

This was her best legal time of the year, following a windy 10.85 in Greece earlier this month.

Campbell-Brown started well, got away from compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser in the lane next to her before holding her form to the line, and give the selectors of the Jamaica national team a strong reason to allow her to run the 100 at the Olympics.

"Running so close to my PB (personal best) is great," said Campbell-Brown. "I'm happy to win against such a great field, and I am happy to run such a great time as well. I'm in a great position to defend my 200m title.

"As for the 100m, that's up to the selectors. I accept that I was fourth at the Jamaica national trials. That's just part of life."

Fraser was second in 10.95 with Marshevet Hooker holding off fellow American Torri Edwards for third in 11.07.

Walker won the women's 400m hurdles in 54.22, just 0.04s outside her best of the year, while fellow Jamaican Shevon Stoddart finished seventh in 56.28.

Trinidad and Tobago-born Kerron Clement of the US won the men's in 48.36 with Markino Buckley of Jamaica third in 49.18 behind Britain's Richard Yates.

National record

Another national record went in the last event, as a T&T's men's 4x100m quartet of Darrel Brown, Marc Burns, Aaron Armstrong and Richard Thompson ran 38 seconds flat for second behind a US team, whose 37.80 was a stadium record.

There was one tinge of disappointment for the Jamaicans when Brigitte Foster-Hylton finished fourth in the women's 100 hurdles in a time of 12.67.

Lolo Jones of the US clocked 12.58 to win, 0.03 ahead of Australia's Sally McLellan, and 0.05 ahead of compatriot Joanna Hayes.

-- Edited by ***DK*** at 01:35, 2008-07-28

-- Edited by ***DK*** at 01:36, 2008-07-28

"I've spoken with Arsene Wenger and I'm going to play on the wing, because that's where the playmakers evolve, overlapping with the fullbacks," Nasri told French sports daily L'Equipe. "That system suits me, I played that way for four years with the French youth team and at the last European Championship. Either on the left or the right, it hasn't been defined yet."

If Nasri does play on both flanks, he will emulate Robert Pires who, like Nasri, joined the Gunners from Marseilles.

Pires took time to adapt to the English game when he joined Arsenal in 2000, but went on to become one of the club's greatest players, playing on the left and right wing.

Nasri acknowledged that he will have to adjust to the demands of the English game.

"When you see how the game is played in England, I'm going to have to improve physically and in the air, but also in terms of intensity and consistency," he said.

The 21-year-old Nasri said he was spellbound by Arsenal last season, despite the club failing to win a title for a third consecutive campaign.

"I love the game, I am passionate about it and Arsenal's football culture makes me dream," Nasri said. "Last season, I got so excited when I watched their matches. It's this culture, this way of playing the game that, for me, represents the best of what football should be."

Nasri experienced the harsher side of football during Euro 2008. Just 18 minutes after replacing the injured Franck Ribery during France's 2-0 defeat to Italy, Nasri was substituted after Eric Abidal was sent off.

Yet he refused to join in the chorus of criticism aimed at France coach Raymond Domenech, claiming the players were to blame for the team's first-round exit.

"We didn't rise to the occasion," he said. "I hope what happened serves as a lesson for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and that we don't make the same mistakes. In any case, I've said and I maintain that the coach shouldn't be blamed."

Arsenal, which is currently on a preseason tour of Austria, will play a Champions League qualifier on Aug. 12.

Athlete                       Nat       Mark
1 Asafa Powell             JAM       9.88  
2 Usain Bolt                JAM       9.89  
3 Jaysuma Saidy Ndure NOR     10.06  
4 Richard Thompson     TRI      10.06  
5 Derrick Atkins           BAH     10.20  
6 Francis Obikwelu       POR     10.20  
7 Churandy Martina      AHO     10.25  
8 Travis Padgett          USA     10.29  



[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=7FT7i5EBnkQ]

-- Edited by ***DK*** at 11:53, 2008-07-23

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SPdEJYcegR8]

re up madddd dis one include ronaldinho madddddd

-- Edited by kadeem172008 at 07:56, 2008-04-30