Top shot

Lehmann insists he can win back Arsenal place

BERLIN: German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann says he can still make an impression with English giant Arsenal, despite his coach's seeming preference for Spaniard Manuel Almunia, according to German press reports.

"I still believe I will return to the Arsenal goal as the first-choice," the 38-year-old told the Hamburger Abendblatt in Thursday's edition.

"At the end, the higher quality will always rise to the top."

The German goalkeeper said he had had a frank discussion with Arsenal's boss Arsene Wenger about the situation.

"I told him I get the impression Almunia and I are not being judged by the same criteria, which is keeping me on the bench," said Lehmann.

"We need to speak again at the end of December to look at the situation. We will see then how the situation changes."

Ashton to continue as head coach of England rugby team

LONDON: Brian Ashton will continue as England's head coach following a post-World Cup review, the RFU said on Wednesday.

Doubts emerged over Ashton's future despite England reaching the World Cup final, which it lost to South Africa in Paris in October.

England had recovered from a humiliating 36-0 pool loss to the Springboks to surprisingly reach the final, but Ashton came under fire from a number of senior players.

"The Rugby Football Union Management Board today approved the recommendation of Elite Rugby Director, Rob Andrew, to re-appoint Brian Ashton as England head coach and to keep the same coaching team of John Wells and Mike Ford in place," the RFU said in a statement. Last month England World Cup players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt escaped censure after criticizing Ashton's coaching style in their recent autobiographies.

Ashton, 61, was appointed England's rugby coach in December last year following the departure of Andy Robinson. England finished third in his first Six Nations campaign.

Philippoussis concedes latest injury could end career

MELBOURNE: Former world No 8 Mark Philippoussis has conceded his latest knee surgery may end his tennis career.

The 31-year-old withdrew from the Australian Open wild-card qualifying tournament earlier this week and said he would need surgery on his troublesome right knee.

He is expected to be out for at least two months.

"I'm not thinking about a comeback at the moment," the Australian, who has had a succession of debilitating knee injuries, told reporters.

"I'm just going to be thinking about spending time with my family, spending time at home and then assessing things - you know, where life will lead me and what direction I want to take in life and whether I'll be going again."

The former US Open and Wimbledon finalist added that even if the surgery was successful it could be too hard for him to make a comeback.

Dokic must rely on invite for Australian Open after injury

MELBOURNE: Former world No 4 Jelena Dokic will need to rely on an organizer's invitation for next month's Australian Open after pulling out of the wild-card qualifying tournament with a thigh injury.

Dokic had been trailing 16-year-old Olivia Rogowska 6-3 3-1 in the quarterfinal of the tournament when she called for the trainer and then withdrew from the match.

"A decision on the discretionary wild cards for the Australian Open will be made later in the summer based on performance and, of course, with our youth policy in mind," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

A former Wimbledon semifinalist, Dokic, 24, has hardly played since she won the Australian Open wild-card qualifying tournament in late 2005 but was then knocked out in the Grand Slam's first round by France's Virginie Razzano.

The Australian Open runs from January 14 to 27.

(China Daily 12/21/2007 page23)