World Cup Corner

Raymond Domenech convinced Lilian Thuram to continue his international career. France visit Georgia on September 2 before hosting Italy at the Stade de France four days later in a rematch of the World Cup final.

I’ll be there to play against Georgia. I haven’t had much choice. When I was in Guadeloupe and in Africa during the summer and even when we were in New York with my club, there was such a demand from the fans that I feel like I have to come back to thank them. My only doubt is whether I’m capable of playing for the two sides (Barcelona and France). I’m 34 and I play for one of the best club’s in the world. I hope I can live up to the expectations.

A complete different story is around Chelsea’s player Claude Makelele.

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Macedonian coach Srecko Katanec has named the same squad, that beat Estonia in the first EURO 2008 Group E qualifying round, for the game against England. Macedonia vs England will be played in Skopje on September 2. The squad has only one home based player - Tome Pacovski from Rabotnicki Skopje.

Macedonian squad:

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Last year UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona were drawn in the same group as last season’s English league winners FC Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League in Monaco. FC Barcelona, who beat Chelsea in the second round of last season’s competition, have been paired with the London club for the third time in three years.

UEFA Champions League draw

Group A
Barcelona (ESP)
Chelsea (ENG)
Werder Bremen (GER)
Levski Sofia (BUL)

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The lineup for the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage was finalised last night. UEFA has confirmed the draw procedure for the group stage of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League, which will take place from 18:00 CET at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The 32 teams will be placed in four pots. Pot 1 will comprise last season’s winners FC Barcelona and the top seven ranked clubs, Pot 2 the next eight and so on for Pots 3 and 4. The sides are therefore divided into eight groups of four. Each team will play three matches on Tuesday and three on Wednesday.

Group stage draw

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Don’t forget to follow this week’s club scene with the final lineup for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

UEFA Champions League
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round will decide the final 16 teams to enter Thursday’s draw for the group stage.

UEFA Cup
The second legs of the UEFA Cup second qualifying round ties on Thursday, with 32 matches taking place in advance of Friday’s first-round draw.

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The qualifying phase for UEFA EURO 2008 is starting today. The winners and runners-up in the seven qualifying groups (50 teams) will join the hosts Austria and Switzerland in the UEFA EURO 2008 final round.

Group A
20:45 Belgium - Kazakhstan 0:0

Group B
19:00 Faroe Islands - Georgia 0:6

Group E
19:00 Estonia - F.Y.R. Macedonia 0:1

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England Captain David Beckham has been sent off during Real Madrid’s 3-1 loss against Valencia on Sunday evening in an exact replica of the circumstances that saw Wayne Rooney sent off recently. David Beckham was given his marching orders by referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez for two moments of petulance to the match official.

The England captain applauded the referee, exactly the way Rooney saw red for his club side Manchester United just weeks ago.

Maybe it’s time for Sven Goran Eriksson to look for a new Captain, Chelsea’s John Terry for example, who is exemplary both on and off the field, one of the best Captain’s in the English Premiership.

After a nightmare start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, FC Porto resurrected their hopes of progress from Group H with an impressive win against FC Internazionale Milano.

UEFA Champions League results from matchday 3 - Wednesday, October 19:
E Fenerbahçe - Schalke 3:3
E Milan - PSV 0:0
F Lyon - Olympiacos 2:1
F Real Madrid - Rosenborg 4:1
G Chelsea - Betis 4:0
G Anderlecht - Liverpool 0:1
H Rangers - Artmedia 0:0
H Porto - Internazionale 2:0

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Thierry Henry, the French international player, made a spectacular comback from injury to score both goals for Arsenal FC to beat AC Sparta Praha 2-0 in UEFA Champions League.

Henry had not played since France’s winner in the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ireland on September 7. The second goal made him Arsenal’s all time record scorer with 186 goals in all competitions.

UEFA Champions League results from matchday 3 - Tuesday, October 18:
A Bayern - Juventus 2:1
A Rapid - Club Brugge 0:1
B Ajax - Thun 2:0
B Sparta - Arsenal 0:2
C Panathinaikos - Barcelona 0:0
C Udinese - Bremen 1:1
D Man. United - Lille 0:0
D Villarreal - Benfica 1:1

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After 148 days Chelsea finally have a good chance to take revenge on Liverpool. Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of UEFA Champions league (in the semi finale) last season on its way to winning an unexpected fifth title.

Revenge, pride and two very different managers will take centre stage at Anfield when Liverpool and Chelsea meet in the Champions League today at 20:45 CET.

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