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Rooney eyes summer wedding after Euro 2008 failure

LONDON: Wayne Rooney is to marry girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin next June, after his diary was left clear by England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008, he said in comments published Tuesday.

"For a while we couldn't make any plans because I didn't know whether I would be playing in Euro 2008," the 22-year-old Manchester United striker told Hello! magazine.

"But when we failed to qualify, as devastating as that was, we were able to come up with some firm dates," he added.

Rooney and childhood sweetheart McLoughlin have been together for five years. The 21-year-old bride-to-be said she had visited potential venues for the wedding in France and Italy, and would also consider a ceremony in England.

The footballer said there was a silver lining to England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 after it was knocked out by Croatia last month.

"Had England got through to the tournament then we would have married later on in the summer, but that meant we wouldn't have had a honeymoon. So I guess there is some upside to it!" he said.

Lehmann still No 1 for Loew

BERLIN: German coach Joachim Loew insisted on Tuesday that he still considers out-of-favor Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as his top choice for Euro 2008.

"The fact is that we're counting on Jens Lehmann as on Timo Hildebrand," said Loew regarding the two who have both been relegated to the bench by their respective clubs, Arsenal and Valenica.

"The situation could of course be better but it's clear to me that we're going to select these two goalkeepers for Euro 2008.

"Jens was extraordinary during the 2006 World Cup. He once again demonstrated during matches with the national team that he is world class. He deals with the pressure very well and in addition he's an important player in the functioning of the team."

Lehmann, 38, has lost out to Spaniard Manuel Almunia at Arsenal, fuelling speculation of his departure from the English side in January.

Luxemburgo returns for fourth stint at Palmeiras

RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil and Real Madrid boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo was named as the new coach of Palmeiras on Tuesday, the fourth time he has taken charge of the Sao Paulo-based side.

Luxemburgo was confirmed less than a week after quitting Santos, when he implied he had also received an offer to coach a club in England.

Luxemburgo rejected the suggestion that he was power-hungry as he faced the media for the first time.

"People think that Luxemburgo wants to be the owner of the club but that's not the case - I just want to put my capabilities at the club's disposal," he told a news conference.

Luxemburgo previously coached Palmeiras in 1993-94, 1995-96 and 2002. He led the club to the Brazilian title in 1993 and 1994.

Redskins' Sean Taylor selected to Pro Bowl team posthumously

NEW YORK: Former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was shot dead during a break-in at his Miami home last month, was selected posthumously to the NFC Pro Bowl team, the National Football League announced on Tuesday.

Taylor, who at the time of his death was leading the NFL in interceptions with five, was chosen through the NFL's All-Star formula combining voting by fans, coaches and players.

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 11 players on the NFC All-Star team, while unbeaten New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers both had eight players on the AFC squad.

Former world No 1 Davenport returns to US Fed Cup team

NEW YORK: Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport's tennis comeback continued on Tuesday with a recall to the US Fed Cup team to face Germany.

Davenport, 31, a three-time Grand Slam tournament winner, returned to the court in September after an 11-month absence while she gave birth to her first child.

The February quarterfinal tie against Germany in La Jolla, California, will be Davenport's first singles appearance in the States since the 2006 US Open.

"I am honored to represent my country on the US Fed Cup team once again," said Davenport. "My Fed Cup appearances have given me some of the best memories of my career and I look forward to helping our team advance to the semifinals."

Davenport made her Fed Cup debut in 1993 and has led the US to five finals and three titles - she has not lost a match in Fed Cup competition since 1994 and has not appeared on a losing team since 1995.

(China Daily 12/20/2007 page23)