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Tony Adams Recalled for China Clash(22/05/96)

Tony Adams will get his first England cap of the year, having recovered from a long term cartilage problem. The Arsenal skipper returns to the England side to play China tomorrow, in a reshuffled squad that also includes a first cap for Phil Neville. Both Neville brothers will play, making them the first brothers to play alongside eachother for England since Jack and Bobby Charlton.

Gary Neville and Darren Anderton are the only two survivors from the starting line up who faced Hungary last week in England's 3-0 victory. Tim Flowers gets a chance in goal, with Gareth Southgate continuing where he left off, where he came on in the last game as sub at center back. Gascoigne is reinstated in midfield, having missed the last encounter due to the Scottish FA Cup Final. He will be joined by Liverpool duo Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp, with Anderton playing the wide role on the right.

Up front, Nick Barmby gets a final chance to impress, playing just off the marksman Alan Shearer. This will be Shearer's first start since England's 0-0 draw with Portugal last December, and he'll be desperate to grab some goals.

Crossley Set for Move to Marseille(22/05/96)

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, Mark Crossley is set to move to fromer European Cup winners, Marseille. The club have stepped in following a breakdown in talks between Crossley and Frank Clarke the Forest manager. Also in the running for Crossley's signature are Leeds Unt, who recently let long serving 'keeper John Lukic go on a free transfer.

Clarke is likely to have further talks with Crossley in an effort to persuade him to stay with the club. However if he joins Marseille, then Forest would lose out on the 3 million transfer price that Leeds would pay. This would be a result of the recent Bosman ruling in the European courts, and would be the first instance of an English player exploiting this law.

Crossley caught the eye of newly promoted Marseille in his excellent performances against Auxere and Lyon in the UEFA cup competition last season.

More transfer news from Forest includes the release of striker Jason Lee. Lee became the butt of a long running joke from the TV programme, Fantasy Football, concerning his "pineapple" hair cut, and it is claimed that this contributed to his lack of form in the latter half of the season. Hoddle Takes on England Job(2/5/96)

Glen Hoddle has been successfuly been appointed as the next England coach by the FA. Hoddle will take over the reigns of the England team after this summer's Euro'96 competition and will continue as coach for four years. This will take him through the World Cup qualifiers and finals and the next Euro qualifiers and finals.

Unlike his predecesor, Hoddle will go straight into competitive football with the England team, facing Moldavia in the first World Cup qualifier in September. Terry Venables is yet to take charge of a competitive fixture, having had the luxury of hosting Euro '96. However, with the appointment of Hoddle, the FA have also recruited the services of God. Hoddle bing of good christian srock will hopefully establish the holy trinity at the heart of the English midfield!

The appointment of Hoddle should secure a smooth tactical transition for England, as it is well known that Hoddle admires the European style of play, rather than the traditional 4-4-2 that England have languished in during the past. He is likely to be a popular choice to both players and fans alike, but places himself at the mercy of the press in taking on the role.

Keegan Feels the Pressure in Passionate Outburst

Kevin Keegan made a passionate reposte against suggestions made that Leeds United and Forest might be tempted to throw their games in Newcastle's favour. The remarks were alledgedly made by Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, who managed in the process to wind up Keegan to boiling point.

The title run in has seen the most enormous swings at the top of the table, with Newcastle throwing away a 12 point lead and succumbing to Manchester United's pressure. Remarks made in the heat of battle tend expose the pressures at the top, and Keegan laid himself bear to his counterpart, showing that the strain is indeed getting to him.

Ferguson must have been particularly pleased that any comments that he made produced such a reaction on Keegan, who must now steady himself before entering the final two games. Tonight's match against Forest must be won to give the Magpies any realistic challenge. Keegan faces a selection headache over playing either Asprilla or Gillespie, who scored the winner against Leeds.

Rugby

Clarke in Murky Water Over Move From Bath

Ben Clarke who has been offered a lucrative deal to join Richmond next season, has been warned off the move by teammate Phil de Glanville. A simular message was sent out to Mike Catt the England full-back, who is also concidering the move to Richmond. Phil de Glanville argues against the lure of money to move to a team who will play in the second division next season.

Clarke has reportedly been offered a GBP1 million contract to make the move to Richmond which would tie him with the club for five years. De Glanville highlighted the gap between the two divisions and queried where the challenge would come from. He also referred to the difference between division two and international level, stating that it was hard enough stepping up to international games from division one.

De Glanville is widely tippped as the next England captain after Will Carling stepped down at the end of the Five Nations. His words will not have gone unconsidered, as players jeapordise their international careers playing in the second division.

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Cricket

Indian's Arrive for Summer Tour(2/5/96)

The Indian tour party arrived yesterday, looking forward to the summer tour and mini Test series ahead. The group included eight new faces from the touring party of 1990 and will start their programme tomorrow against Indian Gymkhana at Osterly, London.

Sachin Tendulkar will be particularly welcomed back to the English frame, having served a successful year with Yorkshire 4 years ago. Tendulkar can be regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the international arena, ranking with Lara as top in the world. His current test average is 51.73 and at only 23 years, with 38 Tests already played, he is an enormous prospect.

Tendulkar said yesterday, that he would welcome a return to the English season, but admitted that he has yet to receive an invite since leaving Yorkshire. This has more to do with his international commitments however, than any problem with his plaqying ability or commitment, as both are exemplorary.

The unseemly exit of India from the World Cup is all but forgotten, as they made a low profile entry to their summer programme. They should prove an ample test to the depleted England set up, who must look to this summer to rebuild after a demorilizing winter.

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Motor Racing

Villeneuve Secures First Victory in Formula 1

The Canadian Jaques Villeneuve improved on his already impressive start to his debut season in Formula 1 by taking his first win in only his fourth race. The scene was the European Grand Prix, the loccation Germany. The race proved to be a classic, with scraps right to the finishing line for all places in the points.

Hill started from pole, but got a terrible start, slipping back to 5th at the first bend. Meanwhile David Coulthard had made a storming start and had charged into second spot, having started from seventh on the grid.

It was Villeneuve though who beat the rest to the first corner and began to carve out a lead ahead of the chasing pack. Hill looked as though he might make an early impression by overtaking Schumacher in a classic movement. He was soon up behind Barrichello, but the Jordan driver was not about to yeald his position easily.

By the tenth lap Villeneuve had put an 8.6 second advantage over second placed Coulthard, behind who there was a raging battle going on between Barichello and Hill, with Schumacher ducking around the sides trying to find a way through himself.

The pitstops proved decisive. Hill pitted , with a suspected puncture, which proved not to be the case, and as the team checked his car 20 seconds passed while he sat impatiently in the pits. He was to emerge well down the field. Shumacher took just 7.7 seconds, Coulthard took 9.8, and could not hold his place against the charging German.

Schumacher then set about closing the gap between himself and Villeneuve, which he did by carving huge chunks of the Canadian's lap times. Meanwhile Hill was stuck behind traffic back in 11th position. He dived past Brundle to take tenth, and his superior speed looked set to take him past Pedro Diniz, but the Ligier driver shut the door on him causing the two to collide. Neither was forced to retire from the collision, but both lost places, Hill dropping to 13th.

Hakkinen was given a ten second penalty for speeding in the pits, and then did it again when pitting for thre second time, it was not his day. Hill made further progress, slipping past Verstappen and began to close in on Frentzen who was running in eigth. Diniz meanwhile had a turn at holding up the other Williams car, allowing Schumacher to make yet more ground up on the leader.

The second pitting session was again crucial with the front two so close together. Shcumacher went in first, taking 8.5 seconds, but came out behind Coulthard who was yet to pit. The Scotsman did enough in holding up the World Champion, to allow Villeneuve to pit and return to the track ahead of the German.

By lap 61 the battles were between Villeneuve and Schumacher for first spot and Coulthard and Hill for third, closely followed by Barrichello and Brundle. This was how it remained until the finishing line, with Villeneuve picking up his first victory of his career as a Formula 1 driver. Hill grabbed a precious 4 points and maintains his lead in the Championship.

Others

Ebdon Takes Overnight Lead Against O'Sullivan(03/05/96)

Peter Ebdon who qualified for the World Championship semi-finals by bating Steve Davis 13-10 in the quarters, leads Ronnie O'Sulivan 4-3 after the first session of play.

Ebdon put together a superb break of 109 to lead by one frame at the close of play over the contraversial O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan had taken the first frame and looked set to take the second having opened a 49 point advantage up over Ebdon. But Ebdon took to the table withserene concentration to dispatch the remaining balls for a break of 76.

Ebdon then took the lead clinching the third frame by sinking a long blue and followed up with the pink. O'Sullivan hit straight back however with a clearance of 46 to the pink to level it at 2-2. Ebdon went on to lead 3-2, getting the better of O'Sullivan in saety play, but was lucky when he flucked the black during his break of 64.

O'Sullivan again came straight back, leading 54-19. Ebdon managed to clear the last two reds up to the blue to get within 12 of O'Sullivan, but left the pink over the top right hand pocket to hand O'Sullivan the frame. Ebdon's century break followed in the final frame, to edge him ahead before today's sessions start. This one looks like it will go right to the wire.

In the other semi-final, World Number 1 Stephen Hendry leads England's Nigel Bond 4-3.

Top Sporting Links Around the WWW

CarlingNet- the official FA Carling Premiership site.
Soccer Virtual Library: has links to every football page on the web.
Coopers & Lybrand Ratings of Test Cricketers
Formula One Grand Prix Page
1996 Olympics Home Page
WWW Rugby Server
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