Gus Poyet in contention to replace Garry Monk as Swansea City manager

Gus Poyet is a genuine contender for the Swansea City job, although Huw Jenkins, the chairman at the Liberty Stadium, is prepared to broaden his search for Garry Monk’s successor in the wake of unexpected interest in a post that has attracted a number of high-calibre applicants.

While Poyet is certainly in the frame, and Jenkins is known to be an admirer of the man he came close to appointing as Swansea’s manager in 2010, other candidates have emerged since Monk’s dismissal on Wednesday.

Jenkins is keeping his cards close to his chest, to the extent that most of the board are out of the loop, but it is understood the 52-year-old, who has an impressive track record when it comes to identifying managers, is prepared to reconsider his initial thoughts on the back of some of the names that have come forward.

As well as mulling over the merits of Poyet, who is currently in charge of AEK Athens and would be receptive to returning to the Premier League despite publicly playing down speculation about his future, Jenkins has run the rule over Roberto Di Matteo, the former Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion manager.

Di Matteo, however, is a manager rather than a coach – he is not hands on when it comes to taking training – and that will almost certainly rule him out given the template that Jenkins has in place at Swansea.

Within the club there is a feeling that Dennis Bergkamp ticks a lot of boxes but it is unclear if the Dutchman, who is currently Frank de Boer’s No2 at Ajax, would be seriously interested in the post or, for that matter, whether Jenkins would be prepared to take a leap of faith and appoint someone who has never managed before.

The same applies to Ryan Giggs, who is the latest name to be linked with the position. There is also a sense that, given Swansea’s predicament, Premier League experience will be crucial in Jenkins’ eyes.
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While the search goes on to bring in a manager capable of pulling the club clear of the relegation zone and improving a dismal run of results that has seen them win only one of their past 11 league matches, Alan Curtis, the former Swansea player and a long-term member of the back-room staff, has been given the task of taking charge of the team forSaturday’s Premier League game at Manchester City.

Curtis has been thrust into the role after Swansea confirmed that Pep Clotet, the assistant manager, and the first-team coaches James Beattie and Kristian O’Leary were following Monk out the door.

Swansea will have to pay more than £3m in compensation to cover the cost of the early termination of the four contracts.

Monk, who managed the club for 22 months after a distinguished playing career at the Liberty Stadium, released a statement in which he spoke of his “great sadness” at leaving Swansea and stated his belief that he would have been capable of turning around the recent poor run of results if given the opportunity.

“Everyone at the club from myself, my staff and the players themselves have been working tirelessly to change this loss of form, but unfortunately have not been able to in satisfactory time,” said Monk, who led Swansea to a club-record eighth-place finish in the Premier League last term in his first full season in charge.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that these players will start to show their true quality again very soon, and the club will be looking upwards once more.

“I feel truly proud of all we’ve done during my 22 months in charge … I would have liked to continue because I strongly believe we would have come through this period together and stronger but I will now use my time to reflect and improve, ready for my next challenge.”

Juan Mata calls for more respect for England’s Wayne Rooney

Juan Mata believes his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney deserves more respect.

Rooney became England’s all-time top scorer earlier this season but that has not failed to take attention away from a clutch of underwhelming displays. He has scored only two Premier League goals this term, leading to questions about his starting role for club and country. But Mata, whose Spain side welcome England for a friendly on Friday, is surprised that Rooney has been criticised.

“When we speak about Wayne we’re speaking about the captain of England and my team Manchester United,” the midfielder said. “He’s a very important player. He’s scored more goals than anyone in the English national team and at United.

“I know he can play in different positions. At the end it’s Roy Hodgson or Louis van Gaal who decides, but obviously if he’s close to the box he will score more. I feel very proud to play alongside him in my team and it will be very difficult to face him tomorrow.”

Spain will not face Rooney from the outset on Friday, though, after Hodgson revealed his plan to experiment with the England lineup in Alicante. Despite the captain’s absence, Mata believes England boast more than enough players to threaten.

“Talking to Wayne every day in Manchester, I can tell that he is delighted with England’s national team,” he said. “They have youth, desire to win and the capacity to achieve something important – you only need to look at their [Euro 2016] qualifying campaign in which they won every game.

“Tomorrow’s match will be a tough test for us and for them to see what level they’re at. I believe that England are one of our direct rivals for Euro 2016.”

Vincente del Bosque echoed those sentiments, although most of the questions the Spain coach faced revolved around players such as the out-of-sorts Chelsea striker Diego Costa.

“He’s not here because we’re obliged to, or because we believe we have a moral obligation,” he said. “He’s here because he deserves it. When a team doesn’t work, the players get blamed too. This year Chelsea aren’t working well at the moment and this is happening.”

Holland miss out on Euro 2016 play-offs with defeat by Czech Republic

Holland will not feature at Euro 2016 after a 3-2 defeat to the Czech Republic ensured a miserable qualifying campaign ended in failure.

The Dutch knew only victory would do in the Amsterdam Arena and even then they needed third-placed Turkey to lose to Iceland to clinch third place themselves and a play-off spot in Group A.

“You have to look to the future now,” their manager, Danny Blind, said. “This is very disappointing for the players, for me, for the Netherlands but we have to look ahead and the new goal is qualifying for [the World Cup in] Russia. I am confident in myself,” he said.

Goals from Pavel Kaderabek and Josef Sural, however, put the Czechs 2-0 up inside half an hour and while the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Marek Suchy was sent off before half-time, Holland failed to capitalise.

Instead, Robin van Persie, on as a substitute in the 38th minute, headed an own goal to put the result beyond doubt, before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Van Persie scored late on. In any case, Turkey ran out 1-0 winners, and secured their place at Euro 2016 as best third-placed team thanks to Kazakhstan’s victory in Latvia.

It is the first time Holland have failed to qualify for a major tournament since they missed the 2002 World Cup and attention will swiftly turn to the future of Blind.

The Dutch Football Association insisted he would remain in charge regardless of the team’s fate but pressure is sure to mount, with Southampton manager Ronald Koeman a potential alternative.

Blind’s side began with the gusto of a team who believed and Anwar El Ghazi should have opened the scoring within 40 seconds when he was slid in down the right-hand side, but he drilled straight at the keeper when he had time to carry the ball closer.

The Czechs struggled to gain a foothold and they were spared again soon after when El Ghazi’s low cross found the incoming Wesley Sneijder, but he ballooned the ball over the crossbar.

As threatening as they were going forward, Holland were jittery at the back as goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet fumbled the ball amidst a crowd of players and was relieved to see Theodor Gebre Selassie prod over from close range.

The warning signs went unheeded, however, as the Czechs stunned the home crowd by breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute when Kaderabek lifted the ball past Zoet at the near post.

There was worse to come for the home side, whose defensive frailties were again exposed 11 minutes later when a simple throw-in found its way to Sural, who ghosted past Virgil van Dijk before poking the ball into the net for a two-goal lead.

Immediately, Van Persie was thrown into the fray, and hopes of a comeback increased when Suchy was sent off just before the break, after bringing down Memphis Depay when the forward appeared to be in on goal.

Instead, however it proved Holland’s undoing as Van Persie’s cushioned header from a cross flew straight past Zoet for an own goal.

There was a late rally as Huntelaar powered home a header and then Van Persie scored but it was too little, too late and as news filtered through that Turkey had snatched a late victory against Iceland, the Dutch knew their time was finally up. Wesley Sneijder, the Holland captain, told Dutch NOS radio afterwards: “The truth is we gave it away. We needed to be disciplined and sharp because we weren’t going to get too many chances. We knew it would be tough but to so easily concede goals meant it was all over for us early in the game.”

Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro considers legal action after leaving post

Chelsea Football Club’s doctor, Eva Carneiro, is believed to have left her job and is preparing to sue the Premier League champions for constructive dismissal following an incident during the game against Swansea last month that led to her first-team duties downgraded at the request of the manager, José Mourinho.

Carneiro was due to return to work last Friday having been told she was no longer to attend training sessions, matches or enter the team hotel after provoking Mourinho’s anger when she and the physiotherapist, Jon Fearn, ran on to treat Eden Hazard during injury-time of the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on 8 August.

However, it is understood that she has not been seen at the club’s training ground and is now considering her legal position. Chelsea have so far declined to comment on what they described as “an internal staffing matter”.

Gibraltar-born Carneiro is reported to have sought advice from a London law firm over the past few weeks, although they too refused to comment on Tuesday. But she is likely to have a strong case given that she and Fearn were twice waved on to the pitch by referee Michael Oliver to treat Hazard, causing Mourinho to accuse the medics of being “naive”.

Employment law expert Nick Wilcox told the Guardian last month that Mourinho’s public criticism of Carneiro – which was condemned by the Premier League Doctors’ Group – appears “disproportionate” and could amount to “public humiliation” which breaches Chelsea’s duties as her employer. He pointed to the law governing employment relationships, which says: “The employer must not, without reasonable and proper cause, conduct itself in a manner calculated and likely to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust and confidence between employer and employee.”

Last week the Football Association confirmed it is investigating a complaint that Mourinho used abusive language during the incident. Under rule E3, players and coaches can be penalised for using “offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures”, with Mourinho facing up to a five-match ban if he is found guilty.

“We understand that the manager allegedly calls Eva ‘Filha da Puta’ at pitchside,” read the complaint, according to the Daily Mail. “The abuse is allegedly directed to her because ‘Filha’ is feminine and singular in Portuguese and to be directed at a man or at a group of people would have to be ‘Filho’ or ‘Filhos’. Additionally it could be considered that the offensive comment was aimed at the club doctor specifically as she speaks Portuguese... the equivalent to this expression in English would be ‘son of a bitch’ in the masculine, but ‘daughter of a whore’ in the feminine.”

Mourinho has denied the accusation.

The chair of the FA’s inclusion advisory board, Heather Rabbatts, has expressed her “sadness and anger” at news of Carneiro’s departure. “Eva was one of the few very senior women in the game, a highly respected doctor who has acted with professional integrity in difficult circumstances and whose skills have been highly praised,” she said.

A spokesperson for Women in Football added: “We are bitterly disappointed about the departure of Dr Eva Carneiro from Chelsea FC. When Dr Carneiro entered the field of play on August 8th to treat Eden Hazard - who had requested medical attention via the referee - she fully complied with the laws of the game as well as the guidance of the General Medical Council.

“We believe it is appalling that her professionalism and understanding of football were subsequently called into question by manager José Mourinho and it threatened to undermine her professional reputation. She is extremely highly regarded within the medical profession and the football industry.

“Mr Mourinho’s touchline and post-match behaviour that day is currently the subject of a Football Association investigation. This incident and Dr Carneiro’s subsequent demotion has made her position untenable.

“She had already been the target of frequent sexist abuse from opposition supporters. We believe that every woman in the football industry has the right to go about their working lives without being targeted with or subjected to abuse.

“We also believe that Dr Carneiro’s treatment and ultimate departure from Chelsea FC sends out a worrying and alienating message to the already small numbers of female medical staff working in the national game.

“WiF hope that by working with football authorities and clubs we can bring about a greater understanding of the barriers that women in the industry routinely face.”

Wayne Rooney: I’ll never turn down England unless my body gives up

Speaking before the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland, Wayne Rooney said: ‘I’d be disappointed if I ended my England career on 50 goals. I want to score as many as I can.’ Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Wayne Rooney has said he will always be available to England, insisting it will be up to the manager to call time eventually on his international career, as he seeks to establish a new national goalscoring record which endures for generations.

The Manchester United striker will move clear of Sir Bobby Charlton at the top of the national team’s scoring charts, and become the 44th player with 50 goals for his country, if he registers against Switzerland on Tuesday. Rooney, who also suggested he had made his peace with Sir Alex Ferguson after the breakdown of their relationship towards the end of the Scot’s tenure at Old Trafford, believes he has an active role to play with the England team through to the 2018 World Cup and, potentially, beyond.

“I feel I’ve got still quite a lot of games left to play for England,” said the striker. “If I was sat here saying ‘I just want to get 50 goals’, then I’d be lying. I’d be disappointed if I ended my England career on 50 goals. I want to kick on and try to score as many goals as I can. I’ve still got plenty of games to do that. Hopefully by the time I finish playing it will be more goals than 50. As long as the manager wants me, then I will be available to play.

“Realistically 2018 is a target for me, to go and play that World Cup, and then we will see what happens in terms of the manager or myself. I’ll listen to my body but, if I still feel 100% fit for England and I can do my job, then we will see what happens after that.

“If I feel I can carry on, I’ll try. But I won’t be one to say I’m not available for selection. I’m sure it’ll probably be the manager’s choice more than mine. It’s a huge honour to play for England and I imagine it’ll be difficult to say I’m ready not to play.”

Rooney admitted there had been “differences” of opinion with Ferguson back in 2013-14, the manager’s last season at United, with their relationship having deteriorated after the striker was played out of position following Robin van Persie’s arrival at the club. He was omitted from the second leg of a Champions League knockout tie against Real Madrid and subsequently made clear his desire to leave Old Trafford, a reality made public by Sir Alex before his final home game in charge. Chelsea attempted to sign him that summer before the player opted instead to sign a new long-term deal worth £300,000 a week.

“We had differences [of opinion] but that’s normal,” said Rooney. “Ask Roy [Hodgson]. He’s had differences with players over the years, too. That’s part of football. I’m not the only person who had differences with Sir Alex Ferguson but I can still sit here and say he was the greatest manager of all time.

“I still see Sir Alex quite a bit at games and he travels away to European games with us. It’s not that we don’t like each other. We just had differences. That’s normal.”

Hodgson will recall Raheem Sterling, Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling, all of whom missed the 6-0 win in San Marino last Saturday which confirmed Englandas the first side to qualify for Euro 2016 from the groups, but the manager has lost Michael Carrick with a calf injury which he sustained in the warm-up in Serravalle.

“It’s a major blow, not only to us but to Michael, who was looking forward to coming back,” said the manager, who has been able to start a game with the Manchester United midfielder only once in almost two years. “I hope it won’t be a recurring injury but it’s not the time to make a judgment. He might get over this very quickly and go on to play a big part for United and hardly miss a game.”

Nathaniel Clyne is expected to retain his place at right-back, with John Stones dropping to the bench.

England’s preparations for the tournament will include a friendly against Spain on 13 November – four days before the visit of France to Wembley – in Alicante’s 30,000 capacity José Rico Pérez stadium if the holders do not require a play-off to qualify for the tournament. The Football Association has lined up another high-profile game against Germany in Berlin and will also play Holland next March.

Manchester City maintain perfect start with hard-earned win at Everton

For once it was not hyperbole from Roberto Martínez when he previewed Manchester City’s arrival at Goodison Park and declared Manuel Pellegrini’s team had announced their championship credentials after two games. The argument remains persuasive after three.

Samir Nasri is congratulated by Manchester City team-mates after scoring his side’s second goal at Everton. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

City maintained their flawless start to the campaign with another display of defensive solidity and attacking ingenuity polished by fine second-half goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri.

Everton posed Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala greater problems than West Bromwich Albion or Chelsea managed previously but they found the solutions, reducing the impact of Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku as the game wore on to record a third consecutive clean sheet. The hosts also worked tirelessly to contain David Silva’s influence and prevent Sergio Agüero devastating their defence as he did John Terry and co the previous weekend.

Again City’s class told with Raheem Sterling and Yaya Touré producing superb assists for the goals. Crucially, given last term’s indifferent title defence, their appetite to fight for every second ball, every challenge and every point was equally impressive. Agüero typified the industry by dispossessing Gareth Barry in central midfieldto the delight of the travelling support. It is very early days, of course, but City already appear a level apart. Sterling has settled in a manner few who witnessed his final months at Liverpool would have anticipated while Mangala looks more assured than at any point in his brief Premier League career. The prospect of more to come is an ominous signal to their rivals.

This was an absorbing affair that demonstrated the early-season promise of both sides, although only the visitors could sustain it. Everton were pinned back frequently and had to be patient without the ball as City, through the mesmerising double act of Silva and Agüero, wove their intricate patterns on the edge of the home penalty area. Yet Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka and the focused John Stones held firm for an hour and, as in the 3-0 win at Southampton last weekend, Martínez’s side carried a potent threat on the counterattack. Tom Cleverley’s quick feet and thinking allied to Aroune Koné’s tireless running ensured Lukaku was not the only preoccupation for City’s diligent defence.

Agüero began in the same menacing fashion that broke Chelsea last Sunday. Only 80 seconds had elapsed when he forced Howard to save with his legs with a blistering shot from a tight angle. He was again denied by the Everton goalkeeper after peeling away from Jagielka to meet an inviting cross from Jesús Navas with another low drive. Howard also saved from Silva and saw Sterling just miss the Spaniard’s pass across the face of goal, and all before Everton had orchestrated an attack of their own.

Barkley posed the first test to Joe Hart and was instrumental in carrying the game to City whenever Everton broke. The England international’s confidence appears visibly improved after two goals in the opening two games of the season and it was his pass that led to Lukaku sidestepping Hart and converting past two City defenders on the goal line. Unfortunately for the Belgium international, an eagle-eyed assistant referee spotted he was fractionally offside. Seamus Coleman went close, Barkley wastefully skied a dangerous free-kick from 20 yards and Lukaku shaved the crossbar with another set-piece attempt with Hart rooted to the spot.

Pellegrini’s team controlled much of the contest despite Touré being in evident discomfort. The Ivory Coast international required lengthy treatment to his groin in the warm-up and was restricted in his movement – though not his touch – throughout. But in Navas and particularly Sterling, afforded the inevitable Liverpool-ex reception by the Everton faithful, City had the pace to penetrate and force the home defence deep.

The former Anfield man made an influential mark on his Merseyside return. With an hour gone City turned the tables on Everton and hit on the counter. Agüero released Sterling down the left and the winger waited for Stones to commit himself in the area before rolling a perfectly weighted pass into the overlapping Kolarov on his blind side. The left-back, played onside by Jagielka, shaped to cross but steered a fine finish inside Howard’s near post instead. The USA international was beaten far too easily for both City goals.

But for a brief flurry, when Vincent Kompany cleared off the line from a Barry header, Everton failed to produce a convincing response. The game was settled with two minutes remaining when the substitute Nasri played a neat one-two with Touré and, with the struggling James McCarthy guilty of ball watching, raced on to the midfielder’s glorious flick to loft the ball over Howard. It was another impressive statement of intent by the men from the Etihad Stadium.

Man of the match David Silva (Manchester City)

Liverpool agree in principle to pay Aston Villa £32.5m for Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals last season to help Aston Villa to a 2-1 victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian 

Liverpool are set to take their summer spending to around £80m after agreeing in principle to meet Aston Villa’s asking price for Christian Benteke.

The Belgian striker has a release clause in his contract set at £32.5m, and although Liverpool were originally trying to negotiate a transfer for a lower fee, they appear to have rethought their strategy following the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City and indicated a deal could go ahead for the full amount. Sterling was sold earlier in the week for £49m but a sell-on agreement with his former club Queens Park Rangers worth around £10m meant Liverpool received considerably less than that amount. Although they may have felt their hand forced by interest for Benteke from elsewhere, stories linking the Villa player to Manchester United are apparently without foundation.

Brendan Rodgers needs a reliable striker, with Daniel Sturridge still recovering from surgery, and Benteke fits the bill, though Rodgers may initially struggle to sell the signing to his own supporters after the club’s change of heart over his value makes it look as if Liverpool have paid over the odds. A Belgium international with 24 caps, the 24-year-old has scored 42 goals in 88 appearances since joining Villa from Genk in 2012. That is a more than respectable record for a side operating at the lower end of the Premier League, and Liverpool will hope Benteke can continue or even improve with better players around him.

It is no secret that Liverpool never satisfactorily replaced Luis Suárez in terms of the goals he contributed, and with Sterling gone and Sturridge only managing 18 games last season Rodgers could not afford any more delay, even if forwards Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings have been signed in this window.

Benteke is not quite in the class of the strikers Liverpool have lost and may be overpriced to a certain degree, but Rodgers has to be realistic now that the club can no longer offer Champions League football and Sterling engineered himself a move away from Merseyside.

Liverpool have spent £12.5m on Nathaniel Clyne this summer, are prepared to pay up to £29m to Hoffenheim for Firmino, and have signed Ings from Burnley for a fee due to be set by tribunal. Rodgers did say this would be a quiet window after spending £110m last summer, mostly the proceeds from the sale of Suárez, though that was before he knew Sterling would be lining up for someone else in the new season. Liverpool are in Australia on a pre-season tour but their chief executive, Ian Ayre, who is with them, is confident negotiations with Villa can be handled from the southern hemisphere.

Women's World Cup: heartbreaking own goal ends England dreams at the death

Laura Bassett is comforted by team-mates after scoring her own goal. Photograph: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

England’s World Cup dream concluded in the cruellest fashion when Laura Bassett’s stoppage time own goal re-routed Mark Sampson’s Lionesses from the final in Vancouver to Heathrow.

Bassett was in tears after slicing an intended clearance into her own net at the end of an evening on which England had held their own against a slick passing, technically accomplished, but largely non-penetrative, Japan side.

Defensively excellent, Sampson’s players persistently forced their opponents to construct their passing triangles down a series of cul-de-sacs and blind alleys. Perhaps ironically, they came undone when the geometry-obsessed World Cup holders delivered a rare cross.

A semi-final England’s coach had predicted would be very much about set pieces was level courtesy of a pair of somewhat debatable penalties, and drifting into extra time when Japan broke and Nahomi Kawusumi unleashed an excellent, subtly curving ball from the right. If anyone needed a reminder of why high-calibre crosses change games, this was it.

Under acute pressure from two attackers, Bassett attempted to clear but merely succeeded in forcing the ball over Karen Bardsley’s head before watching in horror as it grazed the underside of the bar and dropped a yard over the line.

As tears began rolling down Bassett’s face, the final whistle blew. Instantly the centre half was engulfed by team-mates desperate to offer her a consolatory hug.

Bassett and the rest of Sampson’s squad must travel back to London via Saturday’s third place playoff against Germany, while Japan will face USA in the following day’s denouement.

Prince William and David Cameron had been at the front of the queue of well wishers sending the Lionesses good luck messages on Wednesday, but Norio Sasaki was not convinced.

“There are places where England fall unintentionally apart,” said Japan’s coach, somewhat sniffily, shortly before kick off. “I wonder how they have been so successful so far?”

Shortly after kickoff, Jodie Taylor looked set to ruffle his confidence after connecting with Karen Bardsley’s long kick – but she directed her volley slightly off target.

After that, much of the first half was all about Japan dominating possession, with the Lionesses struggling to second-guess Aya Miyami’s midfield promptings and sometimes wrongfooted by the classy Rumi Utsugi.

The good news for Sampson was that the Nadeshiko struggled to get behind a supremely well organised defence, and Bardsley was barely troubled. Indeed, on admittedly rare counter-attacks invariably featuring long balls, Jill Scott and Taylor, the Lionesses looked reasonably threatening.

Everything changed when Claire Rafferty shoved Saori Ariyoshi just inside the area – England protested, forlornly, it was just outside – and Miayma stepped up to take the penalty. Despite delaying her kick and then stuttering in the run-up, she sent Bardsley the wrong way.

If Sampson had a case for arguing that Rafferty’s inital push had been made marginally outside the area, he could have had no complaints when England – due £35,000 per woman bonuses had they lifted the trophy – won a distinctly iffy penalty of their own.

This time, Steph Houghton tumbled all too easy in the face of Yuki Ogimi’s challenge, but the referee bought it and Fara Williams stepped up to the spot. Sampson’s set-piece specialist did not let him down, her kick comfortably evading Ayumi Kaihori’s grasp.

With Taylor’s knee – she had surgery only two months ago – forcing her replacement by Ellen White after an hour, Japan looked relieved. They appeared even more so as Toni Duggan’s shot rebounded off the bar.

Sasaki introduced Mana Iwabuchi – aka “The Killer” – from the bench, and the creator dubbed “the brightest flower” of the Japanese women’s game promptly began causing England all sorts of problems as she ran through a repertoire of tricks. So many, indeed, that there was a strong suspicion that Sampson, ever streetwise, instructed Bardsley to fake an injury in order to use the break in play to re-group his Lionesses.

No matter. Despite Taylor’s withdrawl, England remained very much in the game. White forced a splendid save from Japan’s goalkeeper Kaihori, and Jill Scott headed wide.

Extra time and possibly penalties were beckoning – but then Bassett, otherwise excellent for England throughout this tournament, endured the worst moment of her career.

In time, even she may be able to see the bigger picture. It involves the Lionesses’ achievement in reaching the semi finals of a women’s World Cup for the first time, and becoming the first national team of either gender to make the last four since Sir Bobby Robson’s boys of Italia 90.

They may have stumbled at the penultimate hurdle but, with a nation newly inspired, it will be a major surprise if the topography of the female game in England does not alter beyond recognition.

Roy Hodgson tells Nathaniel Clyne that form is not enough for England

Roy Hodgson has indicated he will continue with Phil Jones as England’s right-back and made it clear to Nathaniel Clyne that he has no right “on the basis of a good season” to think he should take over from the Manchester United defender.
Clyne was restricted to the role of a late substitute in England’s 3-2 win against Slovenia and was overlooked when Hodgson withdrew Jones, who was suffering from a minor ankle injury, at half-time. Jordan Henderson was switched from central midfield into defence and at the end of the game Clyne went straight down the tunnel. “I suppose he was disappointed,” Hodgson said.
Jones was partly to blame for Slovenia’s first goal and has had an erratic season at Old Trafford but Hodgson gave him his backing after it was put to the England manager that Clyne had been the outstanding right-back in the Premier League last season with Southampton.
“Maybe,” Hodgson said, “but Jones is a top-quality player. We have great faith in him and we are very happy with him. We think Nathaniel Clyne is a very good player but I would be disappointed if anyone thought that on the basis of a good season with their clubs they can walk in and demand a place.
“If I were to play him and leave out Phil Jones there would have been a lot of questions about ‘Don’t you rate Phil Jones?’ and ‘Don’t you think he’s a man of the future?’ I didn’t notice Clyne walk off and you would have to ask him.
“He’s a good lad, he’s been very solid since he’s come in and we like him very much. I would be surprised if he did that. I spoke to him and explained what I was doing but you can’t expect everyone to be happy.
“After the game when you are walking around the substitutes you won’t get the same smiling faces as you do from the 11 who played. That is a fact of life.”
Liverpool had an opening offer for Clyne of around £10m turned down last month. Southampton want the 24-year-old to extend his contract, which has one season to run.

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling shows his worth in cruise past Newcastle

Whatever Raheem Sterling is smoking, and it is quite a lot judging by recent pictures of the Liverpool winger in action, it was too much for Newcastle United to stomach as their malaise deepened at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers’ team kept their outside hope of Champions League qualification alive with an ultimately comfortable victory. Liverpool moved to within four points of fourth-placed Manchester City with goals from Sterling and Joe Allen but for John Carver there was only a fifth consecutive league defeat and mounting problems. Moussa Sissoko was sent off late on for an over-the-top tackle on Lucas Leiva that prompted his second booking of the night when it could have been a straight red.
Rodgers’ programme notes were filed before Manchester City’s comprehensive defeat at Old Trafford, a result that may have altered his conviction that “there is a significant gap between us and fourth place, there are a small number of games remaining to bridge that gap, and the teams above us are not dropping points.” His insistence Liverpool “cannot afford any more slip-ups” in the pursuit of fourth place holds true regardless of the champions’ regression, however, and Rodgers’ team were quick to establish a foothold over a brittle Newcastle.

Liverpool were without Daniel Sturridge due to what the club described as muscle fatigue after the England international exited the FA Cup quarter-final win at Blackburn Rovers last week with a slight hamstring problem. In his absence, Philippe Coutinho was the somewhat surprising choice to lead the attack with Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe, back from a six week lay-off caused by ankle ligament damage, completing a three-pronged attack.
Any doubts over the home side’s potency in the absence of a recognised striker were dispelled with their first attack. Carver had pledged a reaction from Newcastle following their lame defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby last weekend and initially the “hurt” visitors delivered. Moussa Sissoko, captain in place of the suspended Fabricio Coloccini, led by powerful example from the opening whistle yet it underlined the weakness of this Newcastle team that they conceded when under pressure for the first time.
The breakthrough was a moment to savour for the scrutinised Sterling. Jordan Henderson instigated the ninth-minute goal with a crossfield pass that his England international colleague trapped with an exquisite first touch on the left of the visitors’ penalty area.
Sterling stepped inside one weak challenge from Ryan Taylor, a second from Gabriel Obertan and swept a fine right-footed finish beyond Tim Krul into the top corner. It was the 20-year-old’s first goal since inviting criticism with his admission to the BBC that he had rejected a £100,000-a-week contract offer from Liverpool.
Any concerns Sterling might have had over the Kop’s reaction were misplaced although the home supporters were quick to express an unflattering opinion of the player’s agent, Aidy Ward.
The release for Sterling may be short-lived. Having been pictured in the Sunday Mirror this weekend allegedly smoking a shisha pipe, it emerged during the game that Sterling has also been filmed allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide – or laughing gas – at a party.
A Liverpool spokesperson commented: “We are aware of the story and intend to speak to the player. Any subsequent action will be taken internally.” Rodgers was also due to comment on the latest controversy surrounding the 20-year-old after the game.
Liverpool, wearing black armbands before the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on Wednesday, appeared on course for a comfortable victory in the immediate aftermath of Sterling’s strike as Newcastle’s resistance evaporated.
The home side pinged passes over the Newcastle rearguard at will and under no pressure for much of the first half. Krul saved an angled drive from Alberto Moreno after Dejan Lovren’s long ball sent the Spaniard clear down the left, Coutinho overhit a cross intended for the unmarked Sterling in front of goal having evaded two challenges down the right and Krul saved superbly from Lucas Leiva’s free header, albeit the Brazilian was given offside.
But Liverpool’s dominance proved deceptive. Having spent most of the first half justifying recent accusations of a lack of quality and fight, the visitors ended it in the ascendancy and rightly enraged by the referee, Lee Mason’s, refusal to award a penalty when Lovren impeded Ayozé Pérez inside the Liverpool area.
The degree of contact between the Croatian and the young striker was debatable but Lovren was late and nowhere near the ball as Pérez tumbled over his outstretched leg. Carver’s complaints continued down the tunnel at half-time.
Pérez almost levelled with a flying header from Daryl Janmaat’s cross, only for Simon Mignolet to produce a fine save, and Mehdi Abeid sliced over from Sissoko’s inviting ball as Liverpool’s performance became increasingly disjointed. Lovren and Glen Johnson spread palpitations throughout Anfield with cumbersome second-half displays but Newcastle could not capitalise.
Liverpool, even while struggling to reassert their earlier control, carried the more potent threat.
Sterling should have scored his second when Taylor completely missed Henderson’s cross from the right and allowed the ball to reach the winger standing six yards in front of goal. Somehow, Sterling side-footed his effort horribly wide. His blushes were spared by Joe Allen of all people with 20 minutes remaining. Newcastle dealt comfortably with a Henderson corner from the right but not with the return ball back into their box by Emre Can.
Can’s cross bounced off Mike Williamson and before the Newcastle central defender could react, Allen despatched a snap-shot past Krul from close range.
The Wales international became the 18th different player to score for Liverpool this season with his first of the campaign, equalling a club record.

Manchester City’s James Milner considers move abroad

James Milner is considering leaving Manchester City in the summer to play abroad, with the midfielder holding initial talks with Milan, Roma and Internazionale, plus two clubs in Spain.
Milner’s contract expires in the close season and at 29 he knows this is his last chance of a major move. He earns around £90,000 a-week on the five-year contract he agreed when moving to City in 2010 from Aston Villa but there would be a sizeable signing-on fee should Milner decide to depart.

Although the midfielder has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup at City, he would like to start more regularly under Manuel Pellegrini.
Now in his fifth season at the club, Milner has made 139 appearances in the Premier League of which 84 have been starts. This season he has been started 13 times, less than half of the 28 matches, and has featured 34 times in all competitions.
Pellegrini has repeatedly said there is a firm wish for Milner to sign a contract but there is a sense at the Etihad Stadium the player may fancy a fresh challenge.
Speaking at the end of last month, Pellegrini said: “All the people at the club who decide if James stays or goes want him to stay. There are two parts to a contract and James must decide what he wants to do with his future.”
Milner, who is a regular in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, is also frustrated at not being played in his favoured central midfield position at City, the role he drew praise for when playing at Villa and which convinced Roberto Mancini, Pellegrini’s predecessor, to sign him in a deal worth around £26m. Milner is mainly used as an auxiliary winger or forward by Pellegrini.
City are Milner’s fourth permanent club. He has played for Villa, Newcastle and Leeds United, where he made his professional debut as a 16-year-old. He also appeared for Swindon Town, where he played on loan for a month 12 years ago.

Birthday dream final alive for Steven Gerrard the peripheral visionary

This 700th appearance of Steven Gerrard’s glittering career was the latest evidence of how Brendan Rodgers is building a Liverpool for that fast-approaching day when the captain is no longer at the club. The juncture arrives at the close of this season and while Gerrard is not yet Yesterday’s Man, he becomes ever more peripheral.
A sign of these times was how his presence in this XI as a holding midfielder could be seen as a throwback move by Rodgers, who since a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on 14 December has preferred Jordan Henderson, the vice-captain, and Lucas Leiva as his central pistons: a selection that has been the catalyst for Liverpool’s best form of the campaign, losing only once in 13 outings after this late, late victory over Bolton Wanderers.
It may seem harsh to bill the Gerrard-Joe Allen combination Rodgers sent out here – and which had minimal effect during a sluggish first half against Neil Lennon’s side – as a second-string duo, especially given the 34-year-old’s fair claim at being the best to ever pull on the famous red shirt. Yet this is what Gerrard and Allen are, the latter having last played in the initial fourth-round encounter with Bolton on 24 January and previously featuring in the league in that dismal defeat to United.
Going into this replay, Rodgers’ side had strung a fine run of form together that featured only one loss – in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Chelsea – since the Old Trafford reverse. That Sunday in Manchester was the last time defeat in the Premier League has been tasted – a seven-match unbeaten sequence in the competition – as Rodgers’s men have gradually clicked into the kind of form that took them close to last season’s Premier League title.
What has emerged is the de facto shape of Liverpool in the post-Gerrard era that starts next season. In this fresh 3-4-2-1 system Lucas and Henderson are the midfield generals, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge – if he can stay healthy – the prime attacking forces, Philippe Coutinho the chief-supplier of trickery, with Emre Can, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho in defence, in front of a rejuvenated Simon Mignolet, the goalkeeper.
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While Skrtel was at fault for Eidur Gudjohnsen’s 59th-minute penalty that gave Bolton the lead – the defender brought down Zach Clough – a key move as Rodgers formulated his blueprint was to shift Gerrard from the holding role to a freer detail.
The pace of change engineered since by Rodgers is such that it was telling how his manager rested both Henderson, who was on the bench, and Lucas, who did not even make the match-day 18. While Sturridge’s place sitting down alongside Henderson was due to Rodgers wanting to ease his star striker back following a long injury layoff, the vice-captain and his new midfield partner were being saved for Saturday’s late-afternoon visit to Everton for the Merseyside derby.
Gerrard’s ever-receding status meant it is reasonable to ponder if his starting spot against Bolton means he may not be in the XI for the 224th edition of the Liverpool-Everton squabble.
Given Gerrard’s enduring class and how Goodison Park has proved a happy hunting ground during his 17 years at the club this would still be as much of a shock as his being left out for the Champions League game at Real Madrid this term.
Yet by the time Gudjohnsen put Bolton ahead Henderson had replaced Adam Lallana and it was Gerrard’s place he initially took in midfield as the senior man went out wide.
Only Allen’s departure restored Gerrard centrally and though there had been flashes of the old style – one first-half pass served instantly into Sterling set the striker clear – the greater evidence was of how he is more muted these days, proving ineffective as Liverpool tried to avert being knocked out.
Instead it was left to Sterling and Coutinho, two vibrant symbols of Liverpool’s brave new world, to do what Gerrard could not: score the late equaliser and even later winner respectively, and which ensured Liverpool went through and can still win the FA Cup.

LA-bound Steven Gerrard would have signed new Liverpool deal last summer

Steven Gerrard has admitted he would have signed a contract extension at Liverpool had it been offered to him last summer and is expected to agree an 18-month deal with LA Galaxy in the next 48 hours.
Liverpool did not open talks with Gerrard over a new deal until November and by then the captain had established in discussions with the manager, Brendan Rodgers, that he would no longer be an automatic selection if he stayed beyond this season. Unwilling to become a squad player, the 34-year-old announced last week that he would leave when his deal expires in the summer.
Confirmation that Los Angeles is to be his next destination appears to be imminent. He is expected to be given a basic salary of £4m per year by the Major League Soccer club – about £76,000 per week, with image rights inflating that figure. That equates to around half of what he is earning at Anfield.
“If a contract had been put in front of me in pre-season I would have signed it,” Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo. “I’d just retired from England to concentrate all my efforts on Liverpool. I didn’t want my club games to be tailored. My injury record had been fantastic for the past two and a half years and I had a great season from a personal point of view last season. It’s all ifs, buts and hindsight now. That period between the summer and the end of November gave me thinking time.
“There’s no blame and I’m not angry about it. There are other people in the squad and the club had other things to worry about. Liverpool Football Club have been unbelievable for me since I was eight years old. This club has helped me fulfil my dreams over and over again.”
Although Gerrard insists his decision to part company with Liverpool has been “very amicable”, the admission that he would have signed an extension had one been on the table in the summer raises fresh questions over Fenway Sports Group’s handling of the situation.
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Rodgers stated in pre-season that a new deal for Liverpool’s captain of the past 11 years was “a formality”, only to concede later in the campaign, when no offer was forthcoming, that Gerrard had a “life decision” to make. The Liverpool manager categorically denied that money was a factor in Gerrard’s reluctance to commit and his anticipated basic salary at LA Galaxy supports that view. The midfielder confirmed that the prospect of having his game time cut, outlined to him by Rodgers in November, was a key factor in his decision not to renew.
“I’ve got to be honest,” Gerrard said. “That chat with Brendan came earlier than I was expecting. It was tough but I understood.” He added: “When it gets to the stage where you don’t know if you’re going to be starting or not it becomes different. I’ve never wanted to be a squad player. If I was missing games now, I’d be sitting out even more next season. I knew it would get worse and worse as time went on.”
Rodgers’ decision to omit Gerrard from Liverpool’s starting lineup at Real Madrid in the Champions League would have been a serious setback to the man who lifted the club’s fifth European Cup in 2005. The former England captain has also come in for severe criticism during Liverpool’s difficult campaign yet has showed his enduring importance to the club several times this season, including in the FA Cup win at AFC Wimbledon on Monday.
“It’s got nothing to do with how results have been,” Gerrard said of his decision to leave. “That’s not the type I am. If things aren’t going so well, I’d rather stay and help to put things right. I think I’ve shown that over the years.
“It simply came down to the fact that the idea of becoming a squad player didn’t excite me or motivate me.”