John Terry Leads The Support For Captain Steven Gerrard

England captains have been hard to come by in the build up to the World Cup with Rio Ferdinand following former skipper David Beckham on to the sidelines.

That has left the path clear for Gerrard to lead the team out when England start their campaign against the USA. This brings the Liverpool midfielder full circle having worn the captain's armband in Fabio Capello's first game in charge against Switzerland.

And despite the serious injuries to Ferdinand and Beckham this is the most experienced team England has ever had and there are natural born leaders all over the pitch.

"I am the captain, but I am surrounded by other captains," said Gerrard. Out of the 23-man squad nine of them have captained their clubs.

This is no coincidence; Capello has opted for a group of players oozing with guile and experience. The average age of the squad is just over 28 years and seven months, which is the oldest in South Africa, and is something the Italian will draw confidence from.

The combined total number of caps comes to 1,386 and that is before you take into account Ferdinand's 78 and Beckham's outfield record of 115. Providing Manchester United allow Ferdinand to return to South Africa next week the injured pair will be with the squad for the duration of the World Cup.

Fifteen of Capello's squad figured heavily during both Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren's spells in charge of the national team. What is more the core of the squad has not changed since Euro 2004.

So, it is clear Gerrard is the captain but he is not the only leader.

"I'm in this position (as captain) because managers see that I'm a good captain," said Gerrard.

"They like they way I am around the place and what I do on the pitch, so I'll do things exactly the same. I feel I have the respect of the players. I'm here to give them any help they feel they need.

"But I've got so many experienced people around me. There's the manager himself, Stuart Pearce and he's been there and done it. I can lean on David Beckham and Rio's still here with us. John Terry's a big captain too.

"The squad's littered with leaders who will lead by example. I may not be a loudmouth off the pitch but if any players want to lean on me or talk to me about anything, or they want to me to go to the manager and speak on their behalf about anything, I'm not shy."

With Terry and, provided he is selected, David James behind him Gerrard also has his vice-captain, Frank Lampard alongside him in midfield and of course Wayne Rooney upfront.

Rooney captained England against Brazil last November and will undoubtedly be an England captain in the future.

Despite Terry being stripped of the captaincy back in Febuary he is still every bit of the leader on and off the pitch.

"The armband would suit him (Terry) very well because he continues to be a leader," said Capello. "it's as if he is still wearing it now."

The Chelsea captain remains resolute and focused on his role for both club and country.

"Nothing will ever change at Chelsea or with England," he said. "In the dressing room I will still give my opinion. The same on the field. I'll make my presence felt, whether I'm wearing the armband or not. I will say what needs to be said.

"Losing Rio was a blow, but that just makes it more important that I show that leadership quality, too. At every level I play, whether it is in training or on the pitch, I demand the same as the manager. That is the minimum that we should be asking of everyone. We all accept that."

Three Blues For Lions But All-Square With The States

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, as expected, played the full 90 minutes of England's opening World Cup match.

In a 4-4-2 selection, Lampard was paired in the middle with Steven Gerrard who scored in a 1-1 draw against the USA.

That was the opener and it came inside four minutes but it did not set England on their way as it should have done. Despite looking the more dangerous side, it was a performance that left hanging many of the question marks over the side's chances that were there prior to this tournament.

Not least is the quality of the goalkeeping with West Ham's Rob Green conceding a horror equaliser six minutes before half time when he failed to stop a routine straight shot. The scorer was Fulham's Clint Dempsey who has caused pain for Chelsea in the past.

Another question mark has been the fitness of whoever partners Terry in central defence and Ledley King was replaced at half time by Jamie Carragher, and then there is the centre-forward position and although Emile Heskey's link-up play against the States was good, he struck the best scoring chance of the game straight at keeper Tim Howard.

Terry's performance was pretty much impeccable and Ashley Cole was defensively sound, if a little reserved in pushing forward against Landon Donovan. When Cole did attack with menace into the area shortly before the interval, his cross was blocked.

Lampard, with plenty of defensive duties too, had few chances to score but he did work Howard just past the hour. His left-foot shot was tipped over, and after later striking a free-kick too high, was challenged well in front of goal when taking a return from Aaron Lennon with time running out.

Lennon was on the right of midfield and Joe Cole missed out on selection on the left to James Milner. When the Aston Villa man was taken off before half-an-hour was up, Cole was passed over as substitute in favour of Shaun Wright-Phillips. Not on his favoured right side, the former Chelsea winger did not impress.

England failed to create much in the first half following the early goal which came about when Lampard took a Glen Johnson throw and his pass found its way to Heskey. Turned into Gerrard's path, it was good finish from England's latest captain.

The United States caused some concern with aerial crosses into the England area and for Fabio Capello's side, Johnson almost hit back straight after the equaliser, but the bulk of the opportunities were second half.

Green did well to turn a shot from former Hull striker Jozy Altidore onto the post, Wright-Phillips made it easy for Howard when well-placed, and Heskey headed his second chance over.

Wayne Rooney finished the game strongly and England will take some comfort from the quality of some parts of their game although they picked up bookings for Milner, Carragher and Gerrard.

It was a familiar stuttering start to an England World Cup campaign.

Jeffrey Bruma's Progress Will Help End The Debate Over Frank Arnesen

Frank Arnesen's fiercest critics argue he should have left Chelsea a long time ago. They scrutinise his role as sporting director at Stamford Bridge and consider it a surprise he has not gone already.

But the former Denmark international remains with the Premier League champions - and his value to the club will become apparent in the coming season in the wake of the decision to release Joe Cole and Michael Ballack at the end of their contracts.

Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to make radical changes to his squad, with the Chelsea manager planning to promote some of the youth players Arnesen has scouted and nurtured. Judgement day is looming for Arnesen's ability to locate young talent.

Jeffrey Bruma is one of his recruits, so is Gael Kakuta, the controversial signing from Lens who led to Chelsea being suspended from registering players, only for the ban to be lifted.

It has been a long wait for Arnesen's players to establish themselves at Chelsea. He played a key role in signing Mikel John Obi and Salomon Kalou but they were on the radar of most scouts in Europe. Mikel almost ended up playing for Manchester United, while Kalou played with Feyenoord.

Arnesen was expected to find youngsters for Chelsea managers to place in the first team, to try to match the production line at West Ham where they found Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Cole and Frank Lampard in one generation.

On one hand, the future looks bright because Arnesen's youngsters won the FA Youth Cup by defeating Aston Villa, with Marko Mitrovic and captain Conor Clifford getting the crucial goals in the second leg. Sam Hutchinson has also shown promise in his three appearances last season for the first team.

But there was also the news of Turkish side Fenerbahce signing Miroslav Stoch, another player who failed to make an impact after being brought to the club under Arnesen's watch.

The 20-year-old made five appearances in four years and Chelsea fans never saw the best of the Slovakia international. They will be hoping for more from the likes of Fabio Borini and Kakuta next season, as Ancelotti may not have any other options.

Has Roman Abramovich’s £300m Super-Yacht Dream Hit The Rocks?

When you are one of the richest men on the planet like Chelsea FC boss Roman Abramovich, you expect your new £329 million super-yacht to be perfect.

But the shipbuilders have been unable to meet the exacting standards of the 43-year-old Russian and the luxury vessel is languishing in a German yard six months after it was due to be delivered.

German company Blohm & Voss built the 560ft, 13,000-ton MY Eclipse – the world’s largest ever private yacht – at their Hamburg yard and it was due to be handed over to Mr. Abramovich last Christmas.

But a list of problems has led to disagreements between Mr. Abramovich, the world’s 11th richest man with a fortune estimated at £7.6 billion, and the company, which now faces a bill of tens of millions of pounds to rectify the faults.

The problems are said to include a giant mirror on one of the nine decks being smashed during tests in the North Sea. And Austrian crystal glasses purchased for Mr. Abramovich’s dinner guests are said to have ‘rattled’ when the electro-diesel engines vibrated. It is claimed the vibrations have also spread to Mr. Abramovich’s personal deck.

There has also been a row over demands by Mr. Abramovich that leopard and reptile skins used on chairs and to line the walls of a massage room should be ethically sourced.

And the parties are also said to be in dispute about who should pay for shifting the location of a helicopter landing pad.

Recently, additional problems have emerged over a French-made navigation system and paint flaking on some of the decks. One source said: ‘It shows even the dreams of a billionaire can burst.’
German sources said that Blohm & Voss had not drawn up a sufficiently watertight contract with Mr. Abramovich, to the extent that it even failed to state which colour the yacht should be painted and the type of paint that would be used.

Suggestions that Mr. Abramovich had wanted to sail to the World Cup in South Africa on board the Eclipse were denied by sources close to the Chelsea boss last night.
But, as the yacht undergoes more sea trials, it may not even be ready for his 70-strong crew to sail in time for his summer holidays.

Last week, Mr. Abramovich flew to South Africa on a private jet to support Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He plans to return to watch some of the matches but, again, will fly there rather than cruise in one of his three other yachts.

The Eclipse is 36ft longer than the world’s previous biggest private yacht, Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, ruler of the Middle Eastern country of the same name.

It has two helicopter pads, 11 guest cabins, two swimming pools, several hot tubs, a disco hall, three launch boats and a mini-submarine capable of submerging up to 165ft. It is fitted with intruder detection alarms and a missile defence system. The yacht has 6,000 sq ft of living space and 600 doors and is also equipped with an ‘anti-paparazzi shield’ which is activated by flashlight. Lasers fire a bolt of light directly at cameras to obliterate any photographs.

The windows in Mr. Abramovich’s master suite and the yacht’s bridge are fitted with bullet-proof glass and are armour-plated.

A spokeswoman for ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which owns Blohm & Voss, said: ‘It is our policy never to comment on clients.’

A spokesman for Mr. Abramovich said: ‘We never comment on personal matters.’

Summary Of A Season: John Obi Mikel

For the second season running it was unclear at the start who the manager intended to be the main deep-lying midfielder, but for the second season again, injury to Michael Essien ensured John Mikel Obi became the number one choice.

On return from the Africa Cup of Nations in February, Mikel started every game until his own knee and ankle problems in mid-April ruled him out of the season's two-trophy climax.

In the opening games, Carlo Ancelotti accommodated both Mikel and Essien, the latter playing further forward in a diamond formation, but Mikel was taken off early in the Community Shield and the league opener v Hull and he was dropped for the first away game at Sunderland, but rotated straight back in at Fulham where an uncharacteristic shot from 25 yards that flew just inches wide was as close as he came to scoring all season.

At Wigan in late September as the team's perfect start to the season ended in 3-1 defeat, the Nigerian suffered ankle damage which ruled him out for two months.

His second match back was a toughie - away in Porto against a team traditionally strong at home. Chelsea won 1-0.

'The defence is in a good moment because the midfield in front is working very well and today Mikel did a fantastic match,' Ancelotti said afterwards and retained the player for the big win at Arsenal that followed, although then left him on the bench for the first hour of defeat at Man City.

In December's run of narrow league wins and draws Mikel was involved in every game without playing a single full 90 minutes.

Nigeria were hardly favourites for the Africa Cup of Nations, having only just scraped into the World Cup at the end of qualifying a couple of months earlier, but they were a surprise package, eventually losing to an Essien-less Ghana in the semi-finals.

For Mikel there was an unfamiliar role of playmaker just behind the Nigeria strikers, more a reflection on his nation's paucity in that position than a flowering of attacking ambition in the Chelsea man. His close friend Salomon Kalou described seeing Mikel play Number 10 as 'his funniest moment of the week' on this website.

All that said, when the 23-year-old returned to Chelsea, there was a fresh impetus to his game. He enjoyed one of his best spells of form yet with enterprising long passing in evidence - culminating in a wonderful assist for Didier Drogba to score at Portsmouth. John Terry's celebration with Mikel left no-one in any doubt that the captain admired the pass.

At home to Arsenal in February he played his 150th Chelsea game and by the end of the season had his first league championship winners' medal, although he missed the final three league games and the FA Cup Final. Initially injured by a Kevin Davies foul against Bolton, he broke down a week later at Tottenham, an injury that would eventually deprive him of his first World Cup.

Mikel's own on-pitch discipline problems are long behind him. He was only booked four times in a campaign spent in a highly-competitive area of the pitch.

Ancelotti has revealed he was a similar player in a similar position in his youth and predicts much to come from his player. With injuries hopefully healed over the summer, it will be fascinating to see how Mikel and Essien fit into the 2010/11 midfield.

Joe Cole's Chelsea Departure A Product Of UEFA's New Initiatives

The England playmaker has a lot of friends at Stamford Bridge but with clubs urged to tighten their belts there was only going to be one outcome.

The announcement that Joe Cole is to leave Chelsea when his contract runs out at the end of June was hardly the biggest surprise in the football world yet it would be interesting to find out the reasons behind his departure.

It is clear that his lack of starting opportunities in the latter part of the Blues’ double-winning season must have had a bearing on his decision with the gifted playmaker largely being reduced to cameos from the substitutes’ bench.

One match he did start was the pivotal match at Old Trafford in early April where he opened the scoring with an outrageous back-heel.

That moment seemed to make his rehabilitation complete but he was only to start one more Premier League match – the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham that so nearly derailed the west Londoners’ title challenge.

Malouda: Sub Role Highly Frustrating

Florent Malouda found it "frustrating" to be kept on the bench until the last 15 minutes of Friday night's World Cup stalemate with Uruguay.

France failed to win in their opening group match for the third successive World Cup as Raymond Domenech's mis-firing side failed to find a way past their Group A opponents at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

Domenech deployed Malouda, Thierry Henry and Andre Pierre Gignac off the bench but the Chelsea forward admits it was disappointing to come on with just 15 minutes left.

"It's frustrating," he said. "But that's life. I hope I get a chance to show my quality.

"Hopefully we can take this (point) as an opportunity to move on. That will be important."

After Group A rivals South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in yesterday's early match, Domenech believes it is they who hold the advantage.

"We lacked that last bit, the last pass," Domenech admitted. "We had to guard against an unlucky counter (by the opposition).

"It is almost a beautiful 0-0, but the result is what it is. They were good, solid in defence."

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan had a few opportunities for the South Americans, whose emphasis was on keeping tight and looking to counter.

France, though, had chances to win the game, not least in the seventh minute when winger Sidney Govou somehow side-footed wide from close range after Franck Ribery's teasing left-wing cross.

The outgoing France boss added: "The other two have the advantage."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, whose side were not bullied in terms of possession by the 1998 champions, said: "The pitch was not particularly good. It created some problems for us controlling the ball.

"Bearing in mind what happened in the game and that France, a recent world champion who are very well organised and prepared, I think it is not a bad result, bearing all this in mind.

"The results in the second round of matches are now more important because both opening matches ended in draws."

Tabarez was forced to defend his team's discipline on the eve of the match and had to do the same last night after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro was sent off for two bookings.

"I think football is one thing, and behaviour on the pitch is a different kettle of fish," he said. "Theoretically, any card is avoidable but I was once a player and I know what it is like to be out there. So I understand my players' point of view."

Krasic Set To Disappoint Top Boys

Any hopes that Arsenal, Man Utd, Man City, or Chelsea may have had about signing Milos Krasic appear to be at an end.

All four clubs had been on the lookout for the CSKA Moscow star but he appears to have his heart set on a move to Italy with Juventus the most likely destination.

The playmaker, who will feature in Serbia's World Cup opener against Ghana, said: "Yes, I want to play in Italy. I don't know what team, but I want to go there. I have heard about Juventus."

Cole Backs Lampard Goal Formula

England star Joe Cole believes the key to his team's success in the World Cup finals is the goalscoring exploits of Frank Lampard.

Cole is hoping to feature against the USA in England's Group C opener and believes Lampard will be unstoppable in the tournament if he finds the net in Rustenburg.

Lampard failed to score in the 2006 finals in Germany, despite playing every minute of his country's venture to the quarter-finals, and Cole says it is important his midfield colleagues share the burden of finding the net.

Cole said: "The best thing that would happen for England is for Frank to score in the first game. If he gets one he gets on a roll.

"He seems to score his goals in bunches and if we are going to do something in this tournament we are going to need Frankie to score two, three or four goals.

"We are also going to need Wazza (Wayne Rooney) to score four or five and ones and twos chipped in from everyone else because we are going to need goals from the midfield."

Cole's involvement in the tournament had been in doubt after a frustrating season at Chelsea as his hopes were hampered by a combination of injury and lack of game time.

The winger is fit and in contention to start after displaying a late burst of form in the Three Lions' pre-tournament training camp to make it into manager Fabio Capello's final squad.

But the former West Ham star said he was not content with just being involved in South Africa, revealing his desire to end England's barren run without major international silverware.

Cole, who is leaving Chelsea, added: "You might not play in a World Cup again and you don't like the idea of your lasting memory being a bad one. You want to finish well and look back on a good one.

"If it is the last one I play, we'll put everything in there to make sure it's as good as it can be. We all know the names of the 1966 winning team.

"There's been many a great English player that hasn't won a World Cup or a European Championship since then, and they'll still go down in history. But if you want to do the group thing, you have to win something."

England's Ashley Cole Can't Wait To Face Landon Donovan After Broken Leg

Part of Ashley Cole’s motivation to be fit for the World Cup was that he could face Landon Donovan, according to United States striker Charlie Davies. Donovan was involved in the incident in which Cole broke his leg in February.

Davies spent three weeks with Cole at a clinic in Capbreton, France, along with Michael Essien, as the trio worked on their fitness ahead of this month’s tournament.

Neither Davies nor Ghana’s Essien made it, but Cole did. Davies, who failed to recover after being badly injured in a car crash last year, said: “Not only did he want to get back because it’s the World Cup, but especially because Landon was the one who broke his ankle.”

Cole’s ankle was fractured when he challenged for the ball with Donovan during the league match between Chelsea and Everton. It was not a malicious tackle but, from Davies’s words, it would appear that Cole holds Donovan – who was on loan at Goodison Park – responsible for the injury.

It adds an intriguing sideshow to the clash between England and the USA especially as Donovan is likely to line up on the right of midfield for the Americans. Indeed, Donovan will shoulder much of the responsibility for how the US fare and has said he is looking forward to the challenge, and hoping to capitalise on any English complacency.

“When you think of the history of the World Cup, England is historically a team that has done relatively well, who have always gotten out of the group stage and a country like the US, to them it’s a guaranteed victory,” he said.

“There are some people that you can tell that there is a sense of nerves about them that, 'Uh oh. Maybe we could lose this game,’ but I probably think most of the players think as long as we show up and play a decent game we are going to win this game.”

Striker DaMarcus Beasley said that the Americans “like being underdogs” when it comes to football as they proved last year in reaching the final of the Confederations Cup. “We need to get good results in big tournaments to get us that respect,” he said.

“The Confederations Cup gave us a big boost psychologically. We beat teams like Spain and Egypt and could have beaten Brazil.

“England are one of the favourites. I’m sure it would be a massive shock even if we got a draw. But the World Cup brings its own pressures. There are always first-round surprises and we are looking to be one of them.”

Beasley, like several American players, has a British connection, having played for Manchester City and Rangers. He admitted that Wayne Rooney was probably better known in the US than most of their own players. “We will try everything we can to beat England but they do have the better players,” Beasley said.

Didier Drogba Misses Training To Visit Doctors

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba sits out training as a precaution to rest his broken arm ahead of the Elephants opening game against Portugal.

The Ivory Coast face the Portuguese in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday and the Chelsea star faces a race to be fit for the match after breaking his arm in a World Cup warm-up game against Japan in Switzerland.

He underwent an operation in Berne on June 5.

The Ivory Coast team trained at the George Thabe Stadium here in Sharpeville, south of Johannesburg, under coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, while Drogba stayed back at the hotel to receive treatment.

"Didier is back in the hands of the doctors, but that doesn't mean anything for the game against Portugal," a member of the Ivory Coast staff told AFP.

The same source said Eriksson will decide at the last possible moment whether to play the Chelsea striker against Portugal.

Eriksson Waits On Drogba

Ivory Coast manager Sven Goran Eriksson will not force Didier Drogba to face Portugal if the striker is not considered to be fit to play.

It was feared the Chelsea star's World Cup was over after he was forced to undergo surgery on a broken arm sustained in a warm-up match against Japan.

But Ivory Coast remain hopeful that their captain will be able to feature against Portugal on Tuesday after he returned to training with the aid of a protective cast.

Eriksson needs his best players as he attempts to guide his side out of Group G, this summer's 'Group of Death', however, he will allow Drogba to make his own decision on his fitness.

"I can't confirm that Didier Drogba will face Portugal, even though the recovery is going well," said the former England coach.

"And I have certainly thought about putting in place a Plan B.

"But the decision to play will depend on Didier himself and the specialists that are following him."

Summary Of A Season: Deco

Carlo Ancelotti's arrival and the switch to a diamond formation looked like it would be beneficial for Deco, who had opted to stay at Stamford Bridge despite summer interest from Inter. What many didn't expect though was to see the playmaker employed at the base of the diamond in our first pre-season game, his passing ability utilised from deep to launch attacks in Seattle.

What works against MLS sides may not be so effective against Premier League ones though, and he found himself beginning the campaign on the bench, before a first start at Sunderland where he gave a display of sharp passing and finishing, netting from 25 yards to wrap up a pleasing away win.

A calf injury on international duty saw him sit out a few weeks before returning to help us beat Liverpool, setting Didier Drogba away down the left to cross for Nicolas Anelka's opening goal. He laid on again for Drogba at Aston Villa, but then missed a chance himself that would have earned a draw.

Deco's best form of the season came in two games against Bolton at the end of October, occasions where he completed 90 minutes (this happened 11 times this season) within a few days of each other.

In the first he smashed a tidy shot into the bottom corner, in the second he completed a superb breakaway by cutting inside his man and curling home, before contributing to one of the best team goals of the season, chesting the ball to Frank Lampard who flicked over the defence for Drogba to volley home. This game was Deco at his very best.

Returning from a month off in the deep role against Preston in the FA Cup in January , he kept his position against Birmingham in the league and provided a disciplined shield in front of the defence while offering a convenient start point for attacks in a 3-0 win.

Fitness was proving an issue though and there was another month on the sidelines into March, before a return at Portsmouth in a 4-2-3-1 shape. The switch proved effective as first Pompey were crushed, and then Aston Villa demolished 7-1, the little Portuguese superb with his passing, notably in playing in Yury Zhirkov to cross for Florent Malouda with the outside of his right boot, through the tightest of gaps in the visiting defence.

A week later he was impressive again against Manchester United at Old Trafford, playing an important but understated role in maintaining possession, but a hamstring problem forced him out of the last month of the campaign meaning Deco was, much like in his first season, unable to get a regular run in the side that could bring out his best consistently.

Brilliant in flashes, Deco offered both flair and control when he was available, but the 20 games missed due to injury tell their own story. A run of fitness would surely bring even more impact next time around.

The Blues' Bleus Get The Blues

The World Cup began in lacklustre fashion for Chelsea's French pair of Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda on Friday evening, with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.

Anelka started the game but was withdrawn before the end after cutting a frustrated figure in attack, while Malouda was surprisingly left on the bench until the final quarter-hour.

Malouda's exclusion was the shock news before the game, after an apparent fall-out with controversial coach Raymond Domenech, and so Arsenal's Abou Diaby started in a midfield three instead, Anelka the lone forward with Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou either side.

It was Govou that should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when Ribery squared across the Uruguay six-yard box, but the Lyon forward tapped wide when the goal looked unmissable.

Uruguay forward, ex-Manchester United man Diego Forlan, forced a smart save from French stopper Hugo Lloris at the other end before Yoann Gourcuff, who played against Chelsea during 2008/09 for Bordeaux, went close with a curling free-kick.

Four minutes before half-time the Chelsea forward got across his man inside the area, but glanced his header just wide after Govou had crossed from the right.

On the hour, a cross from the other flank by Ribery picked Anelka out, but it was slightly too high and he could only divert it over.

That was to be Anelka's last major input, and he was replaced with 19 minutes remaining by Thierry Henry.

Moments later Forlan could have won it for the Uruguayans but snatched at his shot, and then it was time for Malouda to enter the action, 16 minutes from time, surprising given his excellent form this season and the uninspiring display from those around him.

The wide man did manage to flash a shot across goal, but could make no major difference on a disappointing night for the French.

Before the end, Uruguay sub Nicolas Lodeiro was dismissed for a second yellow after a heavy challenge on Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna, meaning he will be suspended for Uruguay's next match.

Malouda: Sub Role Highly Frustrating

Florent Malouda found it "frustrating" to be kept on the bench until the last 15 minutes of Friday night's World Cup stalemate with Uruguay.

France failed to win in their opening group match for the third successive World Cup as Raymond Domenech's mis-firing side failed to find a way past their Group A opponents at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

Domenech deployed Malouda, Thierry Henry and Andre Pierre Gignac off the bench but the Chelsea forward admits it was disappointing to come on with just 15 minutes left.

"It's frustrating," he said. "But that's life. I hope I get a chance to show my quality.

"Hopefully we can take this (point) as an opportunity to move on. That will be important."

After Group A rivals South Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 in yesterday's early match, Domenech believes it is they who hold the advantage.

"We lacked that last bit, the last pass," Domenech admitted. "We had to guard against an unlucky counter (by the opposition).

"It is almost a beautiful 0-0, but the result is what it is. They were good, solid in defence."

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan had a few opportunities for the South Americans, whose emphasis was on keeping tight and looking to counter.

France, though, had chances to win the game, not least in the seventh minute when winger Sidney Govou somehow side-footed wide from close range after Franck Ribery's teasing left-wing cross.

The outgoing France boss added: "The other two have the advantage."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, whose side were not bullied in terms of possession by the 1998 champions, said: "The pitch was not particularly good. It created some problems for us controlling the ball.

"Bearing in mind what happened in the game and that France, a recent world champion who are very well organised and prepared, I think it is not a bad result, bearing all this in mind.

"The results in the second round of matches are now more important because both opening matches ended in draws."

Tabarez was forced to defend his team's discipline on the eve of the match and had to do the same last night after substitute Nicolas Lodeiro was sent off for two bookings.

"I think football is one thing, and behaviour on the pitch is a different kettle of fish," he said. "Theoretically, any card is avoidable but I was once a player and I know what it is like to be out there. So I understand my players' point of view."

Lampard Out To Impress

Frank Lampard is determined to make an impact in what he expects to be his last World Cup, while he believes the vast experience in England's squad should stand them in good stead.

The Three Lions bowed out at the quarter-final stage in Germany four years ago and Lampard admits he failed to produce his best form.

The Chelsea midfielder, who will turn 32 later this month, knows that he must take the opportunity to show what he can do in South Africa.

And he insists spirits are high in the camp because senior players such as himself, Steven Gerrard and John Terry have learned a lot from the last couple of tournaments.

"The confidence in ourselves is quite similar to four years ago when there was the same kind of build-up pre-Germany," he said.

"A lot of us are maybe more confident in a way because of the experience of having been there.

"I certainly feel better for my years of experience in club football and at international level.

"But, by the same token, we know how difficult a difficult a competition this is.

"People can fancy our chances and we're very settled in our minds but we have to go out and perform."

Lampard recognises that he is not likely to get another chance to go to the World Cup in 2014.

Reflecting on the 2006 event, he said: "That last World Cup wasn't great for me personally, and wasn't fantastic for the team.

"We got knocked out in the quarter-finals yet again. You don't get that many World Cups in your career and this could possibly be my last, in fact probably my last.

"I want to look back and say I was part of a team that was successful and have been personally successful as well.

"If it is the last one I play, we'll put everything in there to make sure it's as good as it can be."

Didier Drogba Still Major Doubt For Opening Game

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba remains a major doubt for the team's opening World Cup match against Portugal because of his broken arm.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said that Drogba will work on his ball skills at practice, but that physical contact with other players was not a risk worth taking at the moment.

"We can't risk any contact at this point," Eriksson said.

Drogba was injured in a friendly against Japan last Friday and had surgery a day later.

Eriksson conceded that Drogba's absence in Tuesday's opening Group G encounter in Port Elizabeth would be a big loss to the team but that he was working on "a B plan and a plan C as well."

"He's going to practice today but of course we have to be prepared for the worst," Eriksson said.

Ivory Coast are widely considered to be Africa's best hope of lifting the World Cup and blessed with a wide array of talent, including Drogba's Chelsea team-mate, Salomon Kalou, and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure.

However, they have been drawn in an extremely tough group for the second successive tournament. After getting their campaign under way against 2006 semifinalist Portugal, Ivory Coast then face five-time winners Brazil before meeting North Korea in their final match.

Ivory Coast's preparations for the World Cup were complicated by the dismissal of coach Vahid Halilhodzic in February after a quarter-final loss to Algeria at the African Cup of Nations, his first defeat in 24 games. Eriksson was appointed about a month later.

Ghana Play Down Michael Essien Blow

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is confident they can cope in South Africa without Michael Essien and revealed they are in daily contact with the Chelsea midfielder.

Essien missed a large part of the season due to knee and ankle injuries and has hardly played since December.

Ghana begin their campaign against Serbia on Sunday and Appiah said: “When you are talking about the Ivory Coast, you talk about Didier Drogba.

“When you talk about Cameroon, you talk about (Samuel) Eto'o, and when you talk about Ghana, you talk about Michael Essien.

“But in this Black Stars team, even if Michael is not there, someone has to take his position.”

Appiah said they had received support from their star player while they had given him encouragement in his bid to regain fitness.

“We are with him on the phone every day,” said Appiah. “He is on rehab, we try to give positive vibes.”

Ghana also face Germany and Australia and Appia admitted that reaching the last 16 in 2006 has lifted expectations in his homeland.

“Now they want us to get the cup,” added the midfielder. “Some of the players who were there took a lot of things from that tournament.”

Ballack Blames Abramovich For Chelsea Exit

Michael Ballack has confirmed it was Roman Abramovich and not Carlo Ancelotti who ended his Chelsea career and the German midfielder says he is not yet ready to wind down his career in the USA or Dubai.

Chelsea confirmed on Wednesday that Ballack, Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti had all been released by the club, and the decision to cut the Germany international loose came as a surprise given he started 34 games as the Blues secured the domestic Double under Carlo Ancelotti.

It is reported that the Italian wanted to retain Ballack but was overruled by Abramovich, who is keen to reduce the playing age of the Stamford Bridge squad. Ballack harbours no ill-feeling towards Chelsea though, even if his first priority was to sign a new contract.

"It's unfortunate we couldn't come together, but I have to put it behind me," Ballack said in The Times. "I've known for a while that the negotiations had stopped and it's time to move on. I have to find a new club and carry on with my career.

"Chelsea was always my first choice as I had four great years at the club and enjoyed every minute, but it was not to be. It's still my first choice, even now, but it was not up to me. The decision was down to Roman.

"We [Ancelotti and Ballack] have a great relationship and I know he respected me as a player. I loved the club. They always made me feel welcome and there was a special atmosphere in the team. We won three FA Cups and the Premier League in four years, but winning the Double this season was unbelievable as it was a real piece of history.

"Chelsea do not have the history of Liverpool or Manchester United but are growing as a club. I wish them well for the future."

It is reported that Ballack could seek financially-lucrative employment in the Middle East or join the exodus of aging players to MLS, but with Euro 2012 in his sights, the midfielder has suggested that a return to Germany, where he previously represented Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Kaiserslautern and Chemnitz, is likely.

"To end my career like this is not an option," Ballack said. "I want to play for at least two more years at the highest level so I can play for Germany at the European Championship.

"I've played in three Euros and two World Cups so know how special they are and can't end like this. I'm even more determined to carry on since I've been injured and the motivation is growing inside me every single day.

"I'm not yet ready to 'retire' by going to the United States or Dubai and want to stay in Europe. I'm a proud German who always enjoyed living there, so have some options back home."

However, both Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen have ruled out moves for Ballack on financial grounds.

Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs told Kicker: "Although it would be nice. it is an illusion.''

Bayer official Wolfgang Holzhauser said: "The relationship between Bayer and Michael Ballack was always special and we were an important step in his career. A question is whether we could afford such a move now. We have not had any talks on the issue as yet but I must say I have my doubts.''

Chelsea - Wage Bill Slashed!

The official announcement yesterday of the departure of three players who have contracts that expire at the end of this month has seen the tabloids kick into a frenzy regarding our wage bill.

According to the tabloid press the departure of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and also Deco will shave in excess of a massive £18 million off of the wage bill.

Now we’re not quite sure if the figures given to us by the tabloid press are 100% accurate but they’ll suffice for the purpose of this article.

Apparently Michael Ballack was on a salary of £7 million, Joe Cole was on a salary of £4.6 million, Deco was on £5 million and Juliano Belletti was on £2.5 million.

Chelsea Target Marek Hamsik Confirms Napoli Agreement Over Contract Extension

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik has revealed he has a verbal agreement with the club over a contract extension until 2015.

The midfield ace is currently in South Africa with Slovakia as preparations continue ahead of Tuesday's clash with New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg.

But despite the World Cup focus, Hamsik has shown a distinct alacrity towards a new deal, hoping Napoli bring it to life.

"Both myself and the club have the intention to renew my contract. The intention is to continue on this road so we can continue to be protagonists," Hamsik told Il Corriere dello Sport.

"I am ready for this World Cup, and my future is at Napoli. I want to train well for the tournament now so I am ready to face this adventure."

Agent - Toure Price Too High

Yaya Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk believes Barcelona are pricing the midfielder out of a move to the Premier League.

Toure has been widely tipped to leave Camp Nou this summer after making just 18 starts in the league last term.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester City, while talk of a switch to Arsenal as part of a deal that would see Cesc Fabregas join Barca has also been mooted.

Seluk would prefer Toure to join English champions Chelsea but admitted the Blues may be put off by the price tag.

"The problem is that Barca are asking for too much money because Yaya's demands are totally within reach of the clubs that want to sign him. The problem is what Barca are asking for," he told Sport newspaper.

"I would prefer him to play for Chelsea because they are a very strong team who have been in the elite for many years and who always aspire to be the best, but they won't pay so much money."

Seluk went on to admit that any transfer is unlikely to happen before the start of the World Cup with Toure on international duty with the Ivory Coast.

"Yaya is concentrating on the World Cup and I am sure he is going to play an important part," he added.

"As things stand, it is possible there is no definitive agreement before the World Cup.

"The ball is in Barcelona's court."

Bayer Leverkusen Confess Interest In Chelsea’s Michael Ballack

Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen have admitted their interest in signing veteran midfielder Michael Ballack, whose current contract with Chelsea will not be renewed when his deal expires at the end of this month.

Ballack, who is not involved at the World Cup due to injury, previously played for die Werkself from 1999 to 2002 having signed from Kaiserslautern, and it seems that the former Bayern Munich star could finish his career at the club should the notion take him.

“I don't want to make it a secret - when a player like Michael Ballack, with his history with us, is on the market, then we think about him,” Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voeller is quoted as having said by Express newspaper.

“Michael had a great time here and we have remained in contact over the years. We are relaxed about it all, but Michael Ballack is an issue we are dealing with, particularly since he would like to return to Germany.”

There will be stiff competition for the veteran’s signature, with Wolfsburg and even Real Madrid already linked with a move, and former Germany international Voeller has admitted that his side cannot afford to break their budget to sign the 33-year-old. “A transfer would only be possible if the player accepted a pay cut,” he noted.

The Germany midfielder has played over 400 domestic league games in Germany and England, registering over 100 goals.

My Favourite Games: Ross Turnbull

Continuing our summer feature where Chelsea players tell us about their favourite matches played in and watched, Ross Turnbull rates our moyst recent game in the Champions League highest on his list.

And coming from the North East, the favourite game he ever watched took place at St James' Park and is still remembered fondly in that region today.

Favourite game to watch:
Being a northerner, who joined Chelsea from Middlesbrough, as a young fan Turnbull went to see Newcastle regularly.

He was inside St James' Park the season after Kevin Keegan's side had thrown away a huge points advantage over Manchester United, who eventually won the League in 1995/96.

The city there can often be chilly, and revenge was a dish served cold when the Toon Army's team thumped Manchester United 5-0 in the 1996/97 season.

The match included one of the greatest goals of that season, when David Ginola turned and rifled a shot into the top right of Peter Schmeichel's goal, adding to Darren Peacock's opener.

Further strikes would come from Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer before defender Philippe Albert expertly chipped over Schmeichel.

'I used to go to Newcastle as a kid and I was there when they beat Manchester United 5-0,' explains Turnbull. 'It's always good beating Man United but by five, that was just brilliant.

'Phillipe Albert's chip over Peter Schmeichel for the fifth goal, everyone always remembers that because it was just such a great goal and Ginola's was great as well.

'The atmosphere was outstanding, which isn't really a surprise considering it was such a big result and out of the blue. Not many teams beat Manchester United by that many goals.

'It was actually the season after they lost the 12-point lead as well; it was a bit of revenge, so it was that little bit extra special.'

Favourite game played:
Ross Turnbull's appearances in his first season may have been fe for the Blues but he still played a part in one of the toughest games in our campaign.

When Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in the knock-out stages of the Champions League, both Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario were unavailable for selection through injury.

It meant Ross Turnbull would have to prove his capabilities in one of thew most tightly contested games of the season.

It may be strange for a keeper to consider the visit by Inter as his favourite considering we lost 1-0 after Samuel Eto'o guided a Wesley Sneijder through ball into the net, but Turnbull explains his decision.

'It was such a massive match and there was so much going on building up to it,' he says, 'it was just incredible.

'It was a big European night, Mourinho came back, the whole scenario around it was huge. It was such a massive game and it was a special one for me to be involved in.

'And the atmosphere for that game was one of the best of the season, just with all the anticipation that the fans must have felt.

'I know I keep saying it but it was such a massive night. It's just a shame we didn't win in the end.'

Summary Of A Season: John Terry

Ignoring the pressure and attention thrust upon him in the wake of losing the England captaincy in February, John Terry turned in another season of remarkable consistency in which he was rewarded by becoming the first Chelsea captain to lift the Double.

In a World Cup year, the England captain was never likely to be too far from the headlines, which began in pre-season with nouveau riche Manchester City wanting to take the Chelsea captain north. They were politely rebuffed and he re-affirmed his Chelsea commitment by signing a five-year contract.

On the field, Terry did not miss a game through injury, and while others around him suffered with fitness - every other Chelsea defender had a prolonged issue at some point in the season - it was he who played out the entire campaign alongside either Ricardo Carvalo, Branislav Ivanovic or Alex.

Whoever he was paired with, the results were usually the same. Imperious against Liverpool at the Bridge in October, he blocked, tackled and cleared his way to another clean sheet.

After two set-piece goals brought our downfall at Aston Villa, we responded with seven shutouts in eight games, including one against Manchester United, where the captain rose highest to head the game's only goal, and another at the Emirates, where a left-footed Terry pass helped create Didier Drogba's first of the afternoon. His range of passing on either foot has become a valuable attacking weapon, as was shown with Ashley Cole's Goal of the Season against Sunderland in January.

Defeat at Eastlands in early December would have hurt, as would the mistake that allowed Everton back in to draw at the Bridge a week later, but personal and collective form were recovered in January, when the headlines about Terry's private life began to appear.

The response was predictable, as the 29-year-old headed home the winner at Burnley to seize three points, and then his flick-on to Drogba set us on the way against Arsenal at home but low points would follow.

At Everton Louis Saha twice escaped his attentions to seal a win for the Merseysiders - three times this season the Frenchman got the better of JT - and then City profited from hesitation with Carvalho after Wolves had failed to make a missed clearance pay.

Those incidents are remembered now serve only to demonstrate the spotlight under which Terry found himself, there were others too whose form momentarily dropped, and it should be pointed out that no man played more minutes for Chelsea this season than the captain.

He returned to the scoresheet to see us into the FA Cup semi-finals, before watching on with joy as those at the other end began to grab the headlines with their attacking verve.

A red card at Tottenham, where he was unfairly criticised after having to cover out of position team-mates, was the only blot on the rest of the campaign, with other excellent displays coming against United and Liverpool.

Having lifted his third Premier League trophy, he did the same with the FA Cup after overcoming a metatarsal scare, and almost netted after heading against the crossbar.

Now it is to the World Cup with England, and while he no longer leads the side, there would be no man prouder to emulate 1966.

Nicolas Anelka To Sign Two-Year Contract Extension With Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka is believed to have agreed to a two-year contract extension with Chelsea.

The talks over a new contract were previously reported to have been on hold until the end of the season, while Anelka's representative had insisted that the player would like to continue plying his trade at Stamford Bridge.

The Frenchman's previous contract had another year left to run, and The Mirror reports that the 31-year-old's agent has now finalized a deal that will see his client rake in £90,000-a-week.

The former Bolton Wanderers hitman is currently with his national team, preparing for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He scored 15 goals last season as Chelsea did the double by winning the Premier League and the FA Cup.

Joe Cole: I Need A Manager That Has Faith In Me

After struggling to find first-team football under Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, Joe Cole insists that he needs a boss that has faith in him.

The England international midfielder will be released by the Blues when his contract runs out this month, with Tottenham Hotspur expressing interest in the 28-year-old.

Cole admitted that this past Premier League season was a tough one for him after being froze out of the Chelsea line-up by Ancelotti.

"This season was very difficult for me. I just want to put it behind me now,” Cole told The Mirror.

“What I need in my career is a manager who will give me that feeling that you are going to play here. That’s faith.

"Under Jose Mourinho if you look at it, I played more than Robben, Duff, Wrighty [Wright-Phillips], Malouda, Mutu, Gudjohnsen. Jose had a lot of faith in me. I played in all the big games.

"Even in the first year I played more than them. I know because I have looked at the stats. It just happened that it was spread out.

"I am sure that will all sort itself out. I don't want to talk too much about Chelsea. That is another story. I just want to concentrate on the World Cup. I want to my best for England over the next few weeks."

Chelsea Threaten Manchester City Push For Aston Villa's James Milner

Chelsea are set to go head-to-head with Manchester City to land Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Milner, 24, enjoyed a breakthrough season last term and lifted the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year award. His 12 assists and seven goals have piqued the interest of both clubs as they begin their plans for the summer transfer window.

City were believed to be favourites for the World Cup star's signature and were reported to have agreed an £80,000-a-week, four-year contract with his representatives. Chelsea could yet rumble the Eastlands club, however, and are able to offer Champions League football after scooping the league title.

Ancelotti Eyes Up Move For Manchester City Man Ireland

Chelsea are rumoured to be ready to make a move for Manchester City playmaker Stephen Ireland as the west London club looks for midfield reinforcements after releasing Michael Ballack and Joe Cole. Carlo Ancelotti is known to be a fan of the Irish international and may believe he can beat off competition for the 23 year old who has made it clear he wants to leave Eastlands.

The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham have all been linked with a move for the talented flair player who doesn’t appear to be part of Roberto Mancini’s first team plans. Problems off the field as well as some average performances on it had left the Cork born former Cobh Rambler having to convince the Italian boss of his worth but he appears to have failed to change the City boss’s mind.

Ireland has proven his ability to perform with class in the Premier League and was voted player of the season at Man City the season before last so clearly he has what it takes to play at the very top and Ancelotti may feel he is able to utilize the abundant flair he possesses and could be just the man to make him a more consistent performer.

Its easy to see why there are so many interested parties vying for his signature and it will be interesting to see if the Blues can secure a deal to bring the £12m rated midfielder to the club.

Fenerbahce Sign Chelsea Winger Miroslav Stoch

Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce has completed the transfer of Slovakian international Miroslav Stoch from English champions Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Fenerbahce have confirmed the transfer on their official website.

Fener missed out on the Turkish league title last term and the Yellow Canaries are keen to add to their ranks this summer in order to fight for the Turkish title again in the 2010-11 campaign.

Stoch joined Chelsea from FC Nitra in the summer of 2006, but failed to really break into the first team with the Blues. The 20-year-old was farmed out on loan to Twente last term and helped the Tukkers to the Eredivisie title with a number of outstanding performances.

The Slovakian international had also attracted the interest of PSV, Ajax and Galatasaray, but Fenerbahce have now won the race for Stoch's signature. The tricky winger has signed a four-year deal with the Istanbul outfit.

Released Chelsea Full-Back Juliano Belletti Linked With Olympique De Marseille Move

Juliano Belletti could join Olympique de Marseille this summer after being released by Chelsea in their summer cull of fringe stars.

While Michael Ballack and Joe Cole grabbed the headlines on Wednesday due to their releases from the Stamford Bridge club, Brazilian right-back Belletti was also ushered out of the door, though his relative lack of first team football meant that his was not a name captured in the headlines.

Belletti could be quick to find a new club, however, as La Provence believes that French champions Marseille are poised to complete a swoop for his services.

A Champions League winner during his time with Barcelona, attacking full-back Belletti would join les Phoceens on a free transfer once his contract with the Blues finally winds down at the end of the month.

OM appear to have lost patience in their constant wrangling with Laurent Bonnart, the incumbent right-back whose deal expires next summer. As a result, the former Le Mans man is expected to be sold, with Saint-Etienne a touted destination, and Belletti could be his immediate replacement.

Ageing Monaco defender Francois Modesto has also been linked with a move to Stade Velodrome in recent times.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has previously shown a willingness to gamble on veteran stars, acquiring Gabriel Heinze and Fernando Morientes for nothing last summer to mixed results.

VfL Wolfsburg Boss Steve McClaren Targets Free Agent Michael Ballack

VfL Wolfsburg coach Steve McClaren is readying a move for midfielder Michael Ballack, whose release from Chelsea was confirmed by the club on Wednesday, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Schalke 04 and Bayer Leverkusen are also believed to be interested in taking the player back to the Bundesliga, whilst rumours have also linked the veteran with a move to Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old has already received "several interesting approaches" according to Gerrmany coach Joachim Loew.

Wolfsburg's general manager Dieter Hoeness has also confirmed that he will be discussing Ballack with McClaren very soon, according to the report.

Ken Bates Blasts Blues

Ken Bates has launched an attack on his old club Chelsea for failing to bring through English players.

The Leeds chairman said new rules by the Football League and Premier League to encourage 'homegrown' players were vital.

Top-flight clubs will be obliged to have at least eight players trained in England and Wales in their 25-man squads from next season and Football League clubs a minimum of 10.

Bates said: "I read somewhere that the Premier League have sent 172 players of different nationalities to the World Cup and that is obviously stifling the growth of homegrown kids.

"It is significant that since 2003 Chelsea have not brought one single English player into their first-team squad and similar situations apply to other clubs.

"This is going to put a limit on the unlimited imports of foreign players.

"This is an idea both the Premier League and the Football League are trying to implement to encourage the growth of youngsters and give them a better chance."

Bates added that every Football League clubs was now trying to cut their wage bill.

He told Yorkshire Radio: "A little bit of sanity is starting to come back to the wages market.

"Every club is seeking to reduce their wages bill drastically and reduce the proportion of wages to turnover."

Overplayed Or Out Of Luck - What Is Behind The Chelsea Injury Curse At World Cup 2010?

How about this for flowing football from Chelsea? Start off at the back with Jose Bosingwa, pass to Michael Essien in midfield, move on to Ashley Cole at left-back, he shifts it on to Michael Ballack, captain John Terry gets involved from the back, ushers it up front to Didier Drogba who lays off for John Obi Mikel to have a shot.

No, not one of the seven goals against Aston Villa (or Stoke City or Sunderland) as they marched to the Premier League title. Not even a crucial moment on the road to Wembley and FA Cup success.

It is the run of injuries that have blighted Chelsea players' attempts to add the World Cup to their resumes.

Portugal's Bosingwa was the first to succumb, picking up a knee injury in an October defeat to Villa. By March, his season was over after an operation, as were his chances of playing at World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Worse was to follow in January when Ghana's Essien was ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations with a knee injury. For the remainder of the season, the midfielder battled to get back to fitness, not only to help Chelsea over the line in their double quest, but also to star in the World Cup on his home continent. Alas to no avail.

Then came a freak injury for Cole against Everton in February. A seemingly innocuous challenge on Landon Donovan - on loan at Goodison and ironically a key player for the USA, England's first opponents at the World Cup - led to him being kicked in the sole of the boot and fracturing his ankle.

"It's very bad news," said England manager Fabio Capello at the time. "It's very important to us that he is back." Thankfully, for Cole and England, he is.

Essien apart, all seemed well as Carlo Ancelotti's men lifted the Premier League trophy, but as they prepared for the FA Cup final against Portsmouth, Terry injured his foot in training. It was but a small scare - but the word 'metatarsal' generally sends England supporters scurrying for cover as a major tournament approaches.

Then a heavy challenge from Kevin-Prince Boateng on Ballack during the Wembley showpiece injured the Germany captain's ankle, and he was quickly ruled out of World Cup 2010.

And in the past two days, Drogba has sustained a fractured elbow in a warm-up international against Japan, while Mikel is the latest to be confirmed as definitely out of the entire duration of the World Cup due to a knee injury.

But how can one club be so blighted by injuries?

Have the stresses and strains of achieving the 'Domestic Double' in the most physically demanding footballing country in the world finally taken its toll?

Is it down to an ageing squad being unable to last a full season at peak fitness?

Or is it sheer coincidence, the unluckiest possible twist at the end of a magnificent and memorable season?

Summary Of A Season: Salomon Kalou

In many ways it was a typical season for Salomon Kalou, where again he turned in a goals to games ratio of approaching one in three, but the campaign was littered with unforgettable moments from magic to mayhem and back again.

Things kicked off perfectly as he side-footed home the winning penalty in the Community Shield at Wembley, and though his season ended with more silverware at the national stadium, his afternoon will probably best be remembered for the missing of an open goal in an incomprehensibly goalless first half of the FA Cup Final.

Eternally regarded at Stamford Bridge as being as effective from the bench as he is the start, he began the season in reserve before an in-and-out spell in which he earned probably the season's strangest booking - for jumping to block a Rory Delap throw-in at Stoke with his head.

Asked to lead the line against QPR in the Carling Cup, he supplied his first goal with a tidy finish, and added two more in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid, despite missing another easy one at 0-0.

Excellent against Wolves in November, he laid on two for team-mates before sitting out four games with a rare injury - like Frank Lampard, Salomon is another whose body rarely lets him down.

The African Nations followed with a further absence, and not enough impact for Ivory Coast in Angola, but before he departed came an important contribution against Fulham after Christmas, playing in Daniel Sturridge whose shot eventually found the net off defender Chris Smalling, sparking a comeback that saw us enter 2010 top of the pile.

He returned from Africa to a side that had flown through January, and was, inevitably, back among the subs, though a goalscoring return to the line-up against Cardiff saw him given the nod for the first leg against Inter in Europe.

Chelsea's standout performer on the night, he scored what looked like a crucial away goal from outside the area, and had a blatant penalty turned away right on half-time. The player himself considers it his best performance of the season.

Another strike in the 7-1 win over Aston Villa was followed by the pass that created Didier Drogba's winner at Old Trafford. That the forward was offside and it was not spotted by the assistant referee was no fault of Kalou's.

As frustrating as he is excellent, Kalou's enterprising ethic was rewarded with a hat-trick (and the winning of a penalty) against Stoke in April, his first in Chelsea colours, before netting his final goal in the demolition of Wigan on the Premier League's last day.

That provided a first Chelsea championship medal, and the Double came six days later despite his six-yard box indiscretion, where he hit the bar from mere feet away from the line.

Thirty-seven appearances show how useful Carlo Ancelotti considers the 24-year-old to be, yet next season he will be looking to improve on the stat that shows he completed 90 minutes just four times. A good World Cup could make it the season that turns undoubted potential into regular product.

Chelsea Set To Make £25m Bid For Bayern Munich Star Bastian Schweinsteiger

Chelsea have arranged a £25 million offer for Bayern Munich and Germany international midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a fine season for Bayern, helping lead the club to a German league and cup Double.

The Bundesliga club’s bid for a historic Treble was halted in the Champions League final, where they were defeated 2-0 by Inter Milan.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is looking to add some talented young stars to his squad and Schweinsteiger could replace countryman Michael Ballack, who is set to leave Stamford Bridge with his contract running out this month, according to The Daily Star.

The Blues have begun talks with Schweinsteiger’s representatives and are ready to offer a £4m-a-year deal to the midfielder, but the Germany vice-captain is only concerned with his duties in South Africa this summer.

“Right now I’m focusing solely on the World Cup,” Schweinsteiger said.

“All the rest doesn’t interest me.”

Schweinsteiger, who can play as a winger or a central midfielder, is under contract at Bayern until 2012.

Chelsea Target Alexandre Pato Unsure Whether He Will Stay At AC Milan This Summer

Chelsea target Alexandre Pato has cast fresh doubt on his AC Milan future after he admitted he could talk to other clubs after July 20.

Pato, 20, has been a long-term, £38 million target since ex-Rossoneri head coach Carlo Ancelotti took over at Stamford Bridge. 'The Duck' exclusively revealed to Goal.com UK in February that he is a big fan of the Premier League and could see himself playing in the division.

Speaking to reporters at a charity event in South Africa, Pato stated he is prepared to speak to interested sides after Milan return to pre-season training next month.

"Now it is early to say if I stay at Milan," Pato revealed.

"These things I want to talk only after July 20. For my team I'm not even following the market. I came to South Africa for this charity project of Nike and cheer for Brazil playing my vuvuzela."

Both the player and his club endured a disappointing campaign last term. Milan finished 12 points behind champions Inter, while a succession of injuries saw Pato miss out on Brazil's World Cup squad.

Cole, Ballack And Belletti Depart Blues

Chelsea have confirmed midfield duo Joe Cole and Michael Ballack and defender Juliano Belletti will leave the club this summer.

The Barclays Premier League champions confirmed the departures of Cole and Ballack on Wednesday morning after the parties failed to reach agreement on new contracts and on Wednesday afternoon it was announced Belletti would join them.

Cole, who is part of England's World Cup squad in South Africa, has been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.

As negotiations over a new contract at Stamford Bridge dragged on, it became increasingly likely Cole's seven-year stay would come to an end. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had repeatedly stressed his desire to hang on to the midfielder but behind the scenes the parties could not reach an agreement.

Chelsea's stance is also likely to have been influenced by Cole's failure to hold down a regular starting spot this season. The Londoner had been a key player in the rise of the club under owner Roman Abramovich but a serious knee injury suffered in January 2009 put him out for eight months and on his return he struggled to rediscover his best form.

Cole arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £6.6million deal from West Ham in the summer of 2003 and helped the Blues win their first Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho in 2005 and 2006.

Ballack leaves Chelsea after four years with the club unwilling to offer the German the two-year contract he was seeking.

The 33-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge following the end of his contract at Bayern Munich with a reputation as one of Europe's best players and on the back of a brilliant World Cup. But he has largely failed to live up to that billing, with injuries keeping him out of the team for lengthy spells.

Ballack helped Chelsea to their first Premier League title in four years this season while he also won the FA Cup three times.

Belletti, 33, was signed by Mourinho in August 2007 and leaves after completing his three-year contract.

Michael Ballack Shocked By Chelsea Exit - Agent

Michael Ballack was "completely surprised" by Chelsea's decision to let him leave the club on a free transfer, according to his agent.

Ballack, 33, will leave Stamford Bridge after four years in west London when his contract runs down at the end of the month. The injured Germany captain has since been linked with a move to Real Madrid and the Middle East.

Speaking to German broadcaster RTL, agent Michael Becker claimed there had been no contact with the Blues in recent months.

"He was completely surprised," Becker revealed.

"He has not spoken to Chelsea for three months."

Germany coach Joachim Low had claimed previously that Ballack will have plenty of teams to choose from.

"I am certain that Ballack will play two or three more years at the top level so he will certainly not be thinking of ending his career," he said to the press.

"He has lots of opportunities, and he told me this in Sicily. He even has some concrete offers from different clubs in different leagues.

"I think when you see what condition he was in recent months for Chelsea then it is clear he will play at the highest level for two to three more years."

Jose Mourinho Plots Shock Swoop For Out-Of-Contract Chelsea Midfielder Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack, set to be released by Chelsea according to some reports, has emerged as a surprise target for new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, a report from The Daily Mail claims.

The 33-year-old German international, ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle injury, has apparently received offers from the Middle East.

German newspaper Bild add that Werder Bremen and Schalke are preparing offers for the midfielder, who has claimed that he wants "to play at the highest level for the next two years".

He is keen to continue his playing career in as competitive a league as possible though, having stated that it his aim to continue playing at the highest level.

The report claims that Mourinho sees Ballack as a good foil for Steven Gerrard in the Real midfield, although no formal contact has yet been made.

Joe Cole Wants To Start Against United States

Joe Cole believes his experience could win him a place in the England starting line-up to face the United States in their World Cup opener on Saturday.

The midfielder, 28, played his first match for England in 20 months against Japan in a friendly in May, having recovered from a serious knee injury.

"Managers like experience, especially at the start of tournaments," he said.

"It would mean the world to me to play against America and play in a third World Cup."

He added: "It's a great feeling. I remember going to Japan in 2002 as a youngster and it was all new but I've still got that energy and I still love it and I love coming away to these tournaments.

"I'm back to my best and want to show it at this World Cup."

However, Cole was keen to state that under Capello's reign, neither he or the rest of the players were assured of a place in the team.

"The great thing about the squad now, which is different to when I have been in England squads before, is that you don't know who the manager is going to pick in any position," he added.

"It keeps everyone on their toes.

Cole had remained a doubt to make the final 23-man squad until he produced a good performance against the Japanese on his return to international football - his 54th cap.

After recovering from his injury, midfielder Cole found it difficult to cement a regular place in Chelsea's championship-winning side this season, although he was instrumental in the Blues' charge towards the end of the season.

However, it was announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the club on a free transfer in July.

When asked whether he ever thought the knee injury would damage his England future, Cole added: "It crossed my mind I wouldn't make this tournament but I never thought my career was over."

Cole also paid tribute to England coach Fabio Capello, whose style of management has impressed him.

"He's right up there with the best I've worked with," he said. "You need discipline at this level. Football has evolved and there is a lot of player power. He keeps the players on their toes."

John Terry Vows He Won't Be Distracted By Losing England Captaincy

John Terry has promised his manager, Fabio Capello, that he will not be distracted by losing the captaincy and will give everything to assist Steven Gerrard in England’s quest to win the World Cup.

The armband has moved around this season, even being worn by Wayne Rooney against Brazil in Doha. Gerrard inherited it after the injury to Rio Ferdinand, who had himself become England captain following Terry’s off-field travails.

Talking for the first time about the moment Capello stripped him of the captaincy, Terry said: “When I met the manager I stressed to him that I accepted his decision but one thing he gets from me is completely the same character and I am not going to allow my head to go down and beat myself up about it.

"I am here to win the World Cup like every other player and the manager. I will do everything possible for the team, whether it is an opinion away from football, I will say what needs to be said.

“At every level I play at, at training every day, I demand the same as the manager, that everybody gives 100 per cent. Of course different players have different qualities and you can have bad days as well, but the minimum is to go out there and give it everything.’’

Terry rejected the suggestion that the controversy over the loss of the armband, and ensuing vilification from away fans, had been a challenge to his mettle.

“It has not been a test at all. I got questioned earlier in the season about my form but at Chelsea towards the end of the season we had a lot of big games and I performed at my best level. I am really pleased with that.

“Nothing will ever change at Chelsea or England, whatever happens. I will still give my opinion in the dressing room and on the field and make my presence felt, whether I was wearing the armband or not.

"It was a big loss losing Rio in the week. Stevie and Lamps [Frank Lampard, the new vice-captain] now take the role.’’

Terry added that the senior players, even injured ones such as Ferdinand and David Beckham, would ensure team camaraderie remained strong in the build-up to the United States game here on Saturday.

“It is important Rio stays on board. We have Becks here, who can give his thoughts and opinions. People like Rio around the camp is brilliant. It is important for the squad he is staying. It is vital we stay unified.’’

Ferdinand sat in the sunshine watching training on Tuesday, his left knee encased in a huge brace. His replacement, Ledley King, missed training, protecting his own knee condition, but was moving freely and will be ready for the Group C opener.

“He does not train every day but his fitness levels are brilliant,’’ said Terry, who partnered King during the 3-0 defeat of Platinum Stars on Monday.

“He is a joy to play alongside. One ball got played into the box and he does a Cruyff on his left foot, which as a right-footed player is difficult to do.’’ King used his left foot to drag the ball away and clear. “He has great feet.’’

The pair played together as teenagers in the east London side Senrab, although Terry was a midfielder then. Terry remembers those days so fondly he keeps a picture of the team, including a towering King, on his mobile phone.

“We used to get told off and sent around the running pitch in training and away we went and we would be talking. He was similar to me in that he gave everything.

"He was a lot bigger than everyone else and he just used to scare the life out of everyone by just looking at them.

“It is a long journey from school days playing football together to the 2010 World Cup. We have kept in touch ever since and followed each other’s careers. He is a real nice bloke away from football.’’

It is impossible to talk to any player out here in South Africa without the vexed issue of the Jabulani ball being raised. “It is really difficult to judge,’’ said Terry.

“It goes left, right, all over the place. You think you have it and then it hits you full on the nose or drops a yard or moves to the right or left.’’

The ball may deviate but Terry’s commitment to England remains unwavering, with or without the armband.

Two In, One Out For Portugal

Ricardo Carvalho and Deco both played for Portugal as they beat Mozambique 3-0 in their final pre-World Cup friendly on Tuesday.

Paulo Ferreira was an unused sub and Deco was withdrawn on the hour as the Selecao laboured to victory in Johannesburg, despite having the better of the play.

They had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock, when seven minutes in Deco supplied a delicate pass for Danny to run through and finish.

Those same two players had linked up well in the first half to create a chance for Simao, who was denied by Mozambique goalkeeper Otshudia Lama.

The goalscorer turned provider fifteen minutes from time when he squared for Hugo Almeida, and Almeida grabbed a second close to the end when Cristiano Ronaldo's shot was only parried by Lama.

For Carvalho then, it is two full matches completed in a week, with a 45 minutes against Cape Verde to boot. Deco too earned much-needed minutes with his club season ending early, his hour today added to a full game against Cameroon and another 60 against Cape Verde.

Ferreira will probably now be questioning whether he will be a starter when Portugal kick off their World Cup campaign against Ivory Coast on June 15. The full-back played only 45 minutes against Cameroon, and 68 against Cape Verde.

Summary Of A Season: Michael Ballack

The Germany captain's season ended as it had begun nine months earlier, with injury. Kevin-Prince Boateng's late challenge in the FA Cup Final did not prevent the Chelsea man from joining in the Double-winning celebrations on the Wembley pitch, but it did force him out of a World Cup he had been desperately looking forward to.

A pre-season toe injury limited Michael's preparations, but after flying home from the tour in Seattle, he was ready for the Community Shield at Wembley, converting a penalty from the bench as we wrapped up our first silverware of the season.

It was as a sub that he started the Premier League campaign against Hull, but he was recalled to start at Sunderland, and it was he who kick-started the comeback, poking home from close range to tee up a 3-1 win.

He added his second and third against Burnley and Spurs as we won our first six league games, but then had to sit out defeat at Wigan and victory in Cyprus with a calf problem. Indeed it wasn't until December 5 that Ballack featured in a Chelsea defeat, though three days earlier he had uncharacteristically missed a penalty as we were eliminated from the Carling Cup at Blackburn.

The midfielder's best game of the season was probably at home to Blackburn in October, where he pulled the strings from the right of midfield, laying on chance after chance for his team-mates.

With Didier Drogba so deadly from just about anywhere on the pitch, it was unusual for Ballack to get a look in at free-kicks, where he had proved deadly before - when he did, late on against Everton in December, he found visiting goalkeeper Tim Howard in fine form, and we had to settle for a 3-3 draw.

He called on Chelsea's senior players to deliver in the absence of the Africans at the Nations Cup, and they duly delivered, the 33-year-old chipping in with another goal against Sunderland himself, and supplying one of the passes of the season to play in Nicolas Anelka, a delicate touch between two defenders that left the Frenchman one-on-one.

Having completed his season's scoring against Cardiff in the FA Cup, Ballack saw red against City at the end of February. Already booked for dissent, he executed a needlessly reckless challenge on Carlos Tevez that belied his experience and sent us down to nine men after Juliano Belletti had already been dismissed.

Out of Europe after an impotent showing against Inter, we regained focus in the Premier League and FA Cup, yet in the big games Ballack was dropped to the bench as we retook the lead in the title race.

Injury to John Mikel Obi at Tottenham gave him a way back in, and he responded well, offering more in attack than the Nigerian as Stoke, Liverpool and Wigan were brushed aside to seal a first English league title for the well-medalled German.

It was then no surprise when he was given the nod to start the Cup Final, but his day at Wembley was to last just 43 minutes, having tried to limp on after Boateng's late challenge on 35.

Joining in with the after-match party, he must have known the news that was to come - that the summer will be spent recovering at Cobham, rather than in South Africa.