Chelsea Could Pip Man City To David Silva

Manchester City have been given permission to open talks with Valencia midfielder David Silva, but Chelsea could yet make a move for the player.

Roberto Mancini has been linked with a move for Silva for weeks, and now his Spanish club have agreed to let City talk to the winger. The two clubs have yet to agree a fee but it now seems certain that Silva will be heading to the Premier League.

"As has been said, there is interest from Manchester City and we have permitted them to talk to the player, but we have reached no agreement and we have not talked about a fee," said Valencia's deputy chairman Javier Gomez.

Although City appear to be in pole position to land the midfielder's signature, it is far from certain that he will opt to move to Eastlands. Only on Sunday, Silva spoke of his desire to join Chelsea and the player's agent has again suggested he may prefer a move to Stamford Bridge.

"We're weighing up offers from three clubs and one is Chelsea," his agent, Julio Llorente, told the Daily Mail. "If Silva doesn't want to go to City, the transfer isn't possible."

Silva, currently with Spain at the World Cup finals, is expected to cost in the region of £28 million. While that is small change to owners of both clubs, it could be that Chelsea may prefer to spend big on a striker rather.

Last weekend Silva said of possible interest from Chelsea: "Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years. They might not have the history of Real Madrid or AC Milan but they are creating their own history now.

"There is no reason why in the future Chelsea can't be as decorated as Real Madrid. Chelsea probably have, along with Barcelona, the best squad in football and if any player joins Chelsea he knows he is going to win things.

"In players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, they have players who would get into any team in the world and it would be a pleasure to play with them. There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for - and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.

"The Premier League is still the place to be. No other league in the world has six or seven Champions League-quality teams."

Ballack Ready To Make His Mind Up

Michael Ballack has declared that he will make a decision on his future in the next fortnight.

The midfielder is on the lookout for a new club after Chelsea confirmed earlier this month that he would not be offered a new deal.

Having spent the past four years at Stamford Bridge, reports suggest that Ballack could now return to his native Germany.

Hamburg, Wolfsburg and Ballack's former club Bayer Leverkusen are understood to be leading the chase and will not have to wait long for his decision.

"I am able to confirm that I am going to make up my mind quickly," the 33-year-old told Bild.

"There will be a decision on my future in the next two weeks."

Leverkusen general manager Rudi Voller, meanwhile, has reiterated that he is hopeful of signing Ballack.

"It would be great news to see Michael returning to our club," stated Voller.

"(Manager) Jupp Heynckes would be extremely happy to see Michael coming back to us."

John Terry Throws Himself Back Into England Favour

It was a freeze-frame moment; a study of determination that appealed to the core of Fabio Capello and what he demands. Having hurled his body in the way of one fierce Slovenian shot, John Terry scrambled up and projected himself, almost horizontally, towards another.

His nose was just about brushing the turf, his neck muscles straining as he desperately tried to stop the ball. He was engulfed in one aim. They will not score. Terry narrowly missed but maybe he had done enough to unsettle the dangerous Valter Birsa and Glen Johnson was there to hack clear.

It was the 68th minute of Wednesday’s match, thick with tension, a tension that only increased, and it was as close as Slovenia came to breaching the England goal. It was also an episode which captured the essence of why Terry remains a remarkably committed, valuable defender even if his stock has dwindled dramatically off-the-field through recent months.

A man who should be an adjutant to captain Steven Gerrard — and by extension Capello — had developed into an agitator with his ill-judged, outspoken interventions of last weekend and his prickly mood around the camp before that. They revealed the strain at the heart of this England squad but also an opportunism that showed his own discontent and the isolation that he was in danger of placing himself in unless he acted.

But on Wednesday he was back on the pitch — a domain he is always more comfortable on than the podium. There was, in the immediate aftermath of the revelations over his private life last spring, evidence that he can steel himself through adversity — as he did scoring for Chelsea away to Burnley — even if he later revealed in subsequent performances that the pressure was showing.

The affair with Wayne Bridge’s former partner cost Terry the captaincy and that has continued to distract him, eat at him and been a factor in his anger that led to the possibility of a mutiny - by one man at least. Terry has since apologised to Capello, to the squad and also, one by one, to the players he named as having gone for a drink following the soulless draw against Algeria and who were horrified to be implicated by him in some kind of conspiracy.

It has surely been another humbling experience for Terry in the past few days but without Rio Ferdinand and with Ledley King injured and Jamie Carragher suspended, England needed him to step forward especially as, alongside him in central defence, Matthew Upson was beset by nerves, passing the ball haphazardly and appearing almost stage-struck. Terry had sought out Gerrard prior to kick-off for one of those pre-match chest kisses and he produced a performance that banished the doubts about his worth to this team.

Had he been anything less than excellent and it may have even become an issue as to whether Capello would leave him out for the last-16 match.

England still remain one poor performance from a crisis, a day of reckoning and accusation and Terry will be central to that shake-out whatever happened. But not on Wednesday.

He played his part on Wednesday, stamping his mark on the contest — there was a fearless recovery tackle after Upson had allowed the ball to bounce over his head, there was a storming run forward after England had scored and time and again he was there to intervene, push his body in the way and block. It’s what he does best. Terry almost scored, also, reaching a deep corner at the far post only for Slovenia’s impressive goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to push his header out. That would have been too much, surely, but Terry was relentless in his protection of the cause, his desire to keep England’s campaign alive.

Upson reacted too. At the death, Terry faltered, the ball running away from him, trying for one more desperate intervention but as substitute Zlato Dedic shaped to shoot, perhaps pulling the trigger to end England’s hopes, end Capello’s reign, it was Upson who threw everything into an emphatic tackle. It was one of which Terry would have been proud and after days in which he had hurt his own reputation and caused angst here was 90 minutes of redemption, 90 minutes of release. Capello will hope the unease as well as the fear has disappeared.

England Substitute Joe Cole Admits Relief At Slovenia Win

England star Joe Cole has admitted that the Three Lions' 1-0 World Cup victory over Slovenia was the most tense game he's been involved in during his career.

Jermain Defoe's first half winner was enough for Fabio Capello's side to clinch the win they needed to take them through to the second round of the tournament and Cole, a second half substitute for Wayne Rooney in Port Elizabeth, admits that the team were "exceptional".

"I could have got the nod today but the guys that came in - they were exceptional," Cole said.

"It was nice to come on and play a part. If we all stick together like we have done, we can go as far as we want in the tournament."

Cole, 28, has been involved in a number of tense and tight matches during his career but the Chelsea man, whose contract with the Blues expires at the end of the month, claims Wednesday's meeting with Slovenia tops the lot in terms of nerves.

"I have never been involved in such a tense game," he added.

"I've played in a Champions League final, FA Cup finals, league deciders but this was so tense so there was a lot of nervous energy.

"But I feel I have done what I've come on to do - slow the game down a bit, limit their passing.

I Couldn't Care Less That We Finished Second - Lampard

Frank Lampard is insisting that he "couldn't care less" about England's second-place finish in Group C at the World Cup, as it will give the side more time to prepare for their showdown with Germany on Sunday.

A last-gasp Landon Donovan winner for USA against Algeria relegated England into second place, leaving them to contemplate a more testing passage to glory than they would have faced had they won the group.

If they can negotiate a way past Germany, England are likely to face a quarter-final clash against an Argentina side that stormed through the opening stage with maximum points - but Lampard is remaining unconcerned about potential future opponents.

"I couldn't care less that we have finished second," Lampard said. “You cannot pick and choose your future matches. And finishing second might actually be a bonus for us because it now means we've got an extra day's rest before our next game on Sunday, rather than playing on Saturday."

England qualified for the round of 16 after producing a markedly improved performance to defeat Slovenia 1-0, having stuttered to draws against USA and Algeria in their first two games in South Africa.

Fabio Capello's men looked less inhibited by fear, and played with a greater freedom in their passing and movement as a result. Lampard was impressed by the performance, and he is urging his team-mates to use it as a springboard for progression in the tournament.

"This performance gives us a lot to build on. You have seen it many a time when teams in tournaments start a bit cagey and then come strong," he said. "We have to try to follow that model and try to keep improving every game. For everyone who is in it, the tournament starts here because it is knock-out."

Florent Malouda: France's World Cup Was "A Complete Disaster"

Florent Malouda acknowledged that France’s World Cup campaign has been a complete disgrace.

After a 2-1 defeat to host South Africa on Tuesday, France crashed out of the tournament earning only a single point and scoring just one goal in finishing bottom of Group A.

Malouda confessed that the players are the only ones to blame for the poor campaign in South Africa and believes that the team has a lot of work to do if they are going to repair the damage done to France’s reputation.

"The way people see France right now is a disaster and we, as players, are the first responsible for that,” Malouda told The Sun.

"We have failed from the sport's point of view and outside the sport in the image we've shown.

"I don't know if it's going to be possible but we have to work hard to restore the image of the French national team in the world."

The Chelsea star admitted that the team’s mutiny after Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka was a catastrophe.

"Yeah, it was a complete disaster. We didn't know it would affect so many people."

Ivanovic Eliminated

Defeat to Australia saw Branislav Ivanovic and Serbia knocked out of the World Cup on Wednesday night, as Germany and Ghana went through.

Serbia were well-fancied against the Australians but wasted a host of first-half chances and then fell two behind, while Germany were 1-0 winners over Ghana, the Africans progressing thanks to their superior goal difference to Australia.

Ivanovic played the full 90 minutes for the Serbs, and almost scored, only to see his shot brilliantly saved (pictured above) before Australia took control and ended the Chelsea man's World Cup dream.

Ghana went into the final round of games top of Group D, and required only a point against the Germans to secure their passage into the last 16. Germany needed to win to guarantee their qualification, but could go through with a draw if the Serbs did not beat Australia.

For Ivanovic and Serbia it was simple, win and you're through, and they started the better side against the Australians, who themselves were not yet eliminated but would need Ghana to beat the Germans to progress.

Inside the opening minutes Milos Krasic could and then should have given his side the lead, first shooting straight at Aussie 'keeper Mark Schwarzer, and then rounding him but shooting over from a tight angle.

Germany were almost gifted the lead at Soccer City when John Mensah diverted the ball towards his own goal, Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson forced into a tremendous save to keep it out.

After 20 minutes in Nelspruit, Chelsea man Ivanovic made a key interception at the far post, out-jumping Josh Kennedy after mark Bresciano had delivered a deep cross from the Australian right.

Two minutes later he could have given his side the lead, ghosting into the area and firing a bouncing ball hard across Schwarzer, who outstretched his arm and made the type of excellent save fans of his Premier League club Fulham have grown used to seeing.

Sami Khedira should have scored for Germany but was denied by Ghanaian stopper Kingson, and then Nikola Zigic headed wide for the Serbs after Ivanovic had supplied a killer cross.

Krasic had an effort disallowed for offside and Kingson pushed a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick away, so both games went in goalless at half-time. If it stayed that way, Ivanovic would head home.

Jason Culina fired just wide and then Mark Bresciano had a free-kick tipped wide as Australia started the second period brightly in Nelspruit, and then came news of a German goal from Soccer City.

It came from Mesut Ozil, one of the bright young things of this tournament, who sent a dipping left-footed shot into the Ghanaian net.

Now Serbia definitely needed a goal, but they were on the back foot and twice Ivanovic saved them, first hooking clear as the ball bounced in a busy penalty area, and then when he beat Tim Cahill to a loose ball after goalkeeper Dragan Stojkovic had let the ball out of his grasp. First class from the Double-winning defender.

Ivanovic couldn't save them a third time though, and when Cahill out-jumped Nemanja Vidic and headed goalwards, there was only one outcome, and Serbia had a mountain to climb.

That mountain grew just minutes later as sub Brett Holman fired in from distance to double the Australian lead, and suddenly the Socceroos had a chance to go through.

They still needed two more goals though, either for themselves or the Germans, to level the goal difference with Ghana, but when Marko Pantelic pulled one back for Serbia their dream must have died.

The forward had the ball in the net again, but the flag went up, and when the same player sent an easy chance a yard over from just six yards out, the game was up. It is a desperately disappointing end to the season for one of Chelsea's most improved men.

Germany will now face England, and Ghana will play USA in the second round matches this weekend.

My Favourite Games: Juliano Belletti

Juliano Belletti is another whose time with Chelsea will conclude at the end of this month, but before departing he shares with us two games he holds dear - one is a popular choice, the other a perfectly understandable one.

Favourite game played:

Club football comes no bigger than the Champions League Final, and the 34-year-old has been fortunate enough to play in two, though they ended in very different ways.

A last-minute sub against Manchester United in Moscow in 2008, the Brazilian converted his spot-kick in the penalty shootout but would end up on the losing side, a stark contrast to two years earlier in Paris, when his late strike completed a Barcelona comeback against 10-man Arsenal.

Madcap goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off for the Gunners early on, but defender Sol Campbell had headed them into a first-half lead that they looked like holding on to. That was until the introduction of the sub right-back.

Almost immediately Barça equalised as Henrik Larsson played in Samuel Eto'o, and four minutes later it was the turn of the future Chelsea man to have a go at goal, and he takes up the story.

'It is different,' he smiles. 'Individually the Champions League was the most special game because I scored, if I had not scored being at the World Cup would be the best. I came on with 20 minutes to go, and in 10 minutes I scored.

'You never imagine things around the game, just to play well. Frank Rijkaard told me, "Try to go forward, be offensive, try to cross", because we were losing.

'Then at 1-1, you never imagine a right-back makes a diagonal run inside, but I am Brazilian. When I touched the ball to Larsson in this direction, normally the right back follows the pass outside, but I saw the space between the defenders, and of course it was a perfect pass from Larsson.'

Belletti carried on the run and smashed the ball between Manuel Almunia's legs to win the game for the Catalans.

Favourite game watched:

A year prior to Paris, the Champions League Final had taken place in Istanbul, and present was Belletti's future manager at Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti.

His Milan side raced into a 3-0 first-half lead against Liverpool, courtesy of a goal from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo, on loan from Chelsea.

What followed was unthinkable, as Liverpool scored three in six minutes through Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, before goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek made an incredible save from Andriy Shevchenko (another future Chelsea man) and then saved three penalties as Liverpool became European champions.

'Liverpool against Milan. I was watching on TV at home, it was a final, and it just goes to prove that you never can give up,' Belletti says. 'Even if your opponent has some of the best players in the world you always have a chance to change everything.'