CARRAGHER & COLE IN ENGLAND SQUAD

 

Jamie Carragher and Joe Cole have been included in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa. It will be reduced to 23 players by June 1.

 

Liverpool stalwart Carragher, who announced his retirement in 2007, returns to provide cover in defence with Gary Neville overlooked entirely. Chelsea midfielder Cole has been plagued by injury for large parts of this season but his goal against Manchester United helped convince Capello he is worth another look.

 

Provisional Squad:

David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Parker (West Ham United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Sunderland), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

 

BOLA BOYZ

QUEROZ NAMES PORTUGAL PROVISIONAL SQUAD

 

Pepe has been included in Portugal's provisional 24-man squad ahead of the World Cup, despite having been sidelined by a knee injury since December. The Real Madrid defender was a stand-out in a scrappy Portuguese qualifying campaign to ensure his place.

 

Coach Carlos Queiroz had previously indicated he had "one or two'' doubts about the fitness of certain players. Portugal reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Germany four years ago, but face a difficult task to get out of their group in South Africa after being draw against Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

 

Provisional Squad:
Beto (Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Eduardo (Braga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Ze Castro (Deportivo La Coruna), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Pepe (Real Madrid), Miguel (Valencia), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Nani (Manchester United), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Pedro Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg).

 

BOLA BOYZ

CHELSEA WINS PREMIER LEAGUE

 

Carlo Ancelotti's unstoppable Blues crushed the Red opposition as they romped to the title yesterday. And after hoisting the Premier League trophy aloft, Chelsea skipper John Terry expressed the three years of pain for seeing Manchester United lift it.

 

Chelsea blew their opponents away as they stuck eight past Wigan at a delirious Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba notched a hat-trick - taking him to 29 League goals and the Golden Boot. And it was a net gain all round for the Blues as they finished the season with 103 Prem goals. Nicolas Anelka (2), Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole also struck yesterday.

 

United, who beat Stoke 4-0, finished a point behind Chelsea. And Terry means to make sure Alex Ferguson's side stay second best for years to come. The England centre back also paid tribute to boss Ancelotti who matched Jose Mourinho's feat by becoming the second foreign coach to win the League at the first attempt.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

ESSIEN IN GHANA'S SQUAD

Injury doubt Michael Essien has been named in Ghana's preliminary 30-man World Cup squad by coach Milovan Rajevac despite uncertainty as to whether the Chelsea midfielder will be fit to feature in South Africa. Essien has not featured for Chelsea this year after suffering a knee injury while on duty with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in January. Ghana went on to reach the final in that tournament, but their hopes at the World Cup hinge on the rehabilitation of one of their only world-class players.

 

Ghana provisional squad:
Richard Kingson, Daniel Agyei, Stephen Ahorlu, Stephen Adams, Samuel Inkoom, Eric Addo, Jonathan Mensah, Lee Addy, Rahim Ayew, Hans Sarpei, John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, John Paintsil, Sulley Muntari, Derek Boateng, Anthony Annan, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew, Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Haminu Dramani, Quincy Owusu Abeyie, Bernard Kumordzie, Laryea Kingston, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Matthew Amoah, Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah.
 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

STOKE 1 - CHELSEA 2

Carlo Ancelotti saw his Chelsea side stretch their 100% record to five matches at the Britannia Stadium as a stoppage-time goal from Florent Malouda secured a 2-1 victory.

 

Florent Malouda scored an injury-time winner as Chelsea battled back from a goal down to beat Stoke 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.

 

The France international broke Stoke hearts after Didier Drogba's goal in first-half injury-time had cancelled out Abdoulaye Faye's opener for the hosts.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

DECO TO STAY AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea midfielder Deco is prepared to stay at the club after seeing Inter Milan withdraw their interest in him. Deco described last season as the worst of his career and was desperate to join Inter, but the Italians insist they cannot afford him. Now the 31-year-old Portugal international has hinted he may stay at Stamford Bridge for another two years.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

STURRIDGE TO STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge on a four-year contract.

 

The 19-year-old starlet has joined Carlo Ancelotti's side after Manchester City continued to stockpile strikers with the signing of Roque Santa Cruz.

 

Sturridge will link up with his new team mates for pre-season training next week. He scored four goals in 26 appearances at Eastlands last term.

 

The fee was undisclosed, and settled by a tribunal. Sturridge is the nephew of former Derby forward Dean.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

CHELSEA IS JUST A TOY FOR ABRAMOVICH

 

Chelsea's want-away midfielder Deco has accused Blues owner Roman Abramovich of treating  the club like a 'toy' and has blamed him for the exit of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Portuguese playmaker Deco was brought to West London from Barcelona last summer for a fee of £8m and he enjoyed an excellent start to his career with the Blues. However, the 31-year-old struggled for appearances and form during the second half of the campaign, and is now seeking an exit.

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA

NOW CHELSEA WANTS TORRES-VILLA

 

Chelsea are ready to test Liverpool's resolve with a £50 million bid for Fernando Torres. They have also offered Valencia £35m for the spanish striking partner David Villa.

 

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is worried the huge sum offered by Chelsea could tempt American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Liverpool's true financial state will be revealed soon, and Benitez is beginning to fear the worst.

 

Benitez was hopeful of landing 27-year-old Villa. Now he not only has to face up to Chelsea signing Villa but also possibility of losing Torres. Chelsea's bid for Villa is £4m higher than Real Madrid's and preferred by debt-ridden Valencia.

Roman Abramovich is prepared to take advantage of Liverpool's own money worries by making the sort of offer he hopes Gillett and Hicks will not be able to refuse. 

BOLA BOYZ  LIVERPOOL

CHELSEA WILL APPEAL FOR DROGBA

Chelsea have told UEFA they intend to lodge an appeal against the lengthy European bans handed out to striker Didier Drogba and defender Jose Bosingwa.

 

Drogba was given a six-match ban, the last two games suspended for two years, for his angry confrontation with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of their Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona in May.

 

BOLA BOYZ  CHELSEA