Top shot
England can be group winners, says optimistic Gerrard
LONDON: Midfielder Steven Gerrard said on Monday England should not settle for second place in their group despite their poor Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
"I'm not going to concede that straight away," Gerrard said with England fourth in Group E five points behind leaders Croatia and facing a real threat of failing to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
"I've looked at the (remaining) games and that is why I'm not going to say we are playing for second just yet," he told reporters ahead of England's game in Estonia tomorrow.
"I'm confident that if we can turn our form around and start playing at a higher level we can beat all those sides."
Croatia lead the group with 16 points from six games, Israel have 14 after seven, Russia 14 and England 11 from six.
Liverpool stars sign on with bumper four-year deals
LONDON: Liverpool pair Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have signed new contracts which will keep them at the club until 2011, the club announced on its website (www.liverpoolfc.tv) on Monday.
Captain Gerrard, 27, and his deputy Carragher, 29 took a break from preparing for England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia to pen the new four-year deals at Anfield on Monday afternoon.
The two homegrown stalwarts of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool team had two years remaining on their previous contracts, signed after the club's Champions League triumph of 2005.
After reaching the Champions League final again last month, Gerrard says the aim now is to translate their European success on to the domestic stage.
"I'm just pleased to get it out of the way and we can look forward to next season now," said Gerrard, who has set his sights on ending Liverpool's 17-year wait for the domestic championship.
Marseille and Bayern discuss Ribery transfer
MARSEILLE, France: Olympique Marseille and Bayern Munich have met to discuss the possible transfer of France midfielder Franck Ribery, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday.
"The executives of both clubs have agreed to meet again in the coming days to confirm a possible agreement over the player's transfer to Bayern," Marseille said on their website (www.om.net).
"If an agreement is found, Olympique Marseille will authorise Franck Ribery to undergo the medical that is needed for him to sign."
Marseille sources said the transfer fee should be around 25 million euros ($33.66 million).
Fiery Cubs manager Piniella suspended for four games
NEW YORK: Fiery Cubs manager Lou Piniella was suspended for four games for throwing a tantrum during Saturday's game against the Atlanta Braves, Major League Baseball said on Monday.
Piniella, who also sat out a game on Sunday after he was suspended for aggressive and inappropriate actions during an argument with an umpire, will miss a three-game series against NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Disputing a call that a Chicago player had been thrown out at third base, Piniella went nose-to-nose in a heated argument with umpire Mark Wegner, kicked dirt on his shoes and twice kicked his own cap in disgust.
It was the first time this season that Piniella had been ejected and the 60th time in his career.
(China Daily 06/06/2007 page23)
