FIFA Give Didier Drogba All-Clear To Play With His Broken Arm

The Ivory Coast received a huge boost today after Didier Drogba was told that he can play at the World Cup.

Drogba had feared his South African dream was over when he broke his right arm in a friendly against Japan 11 days ago. The 32-year-old, who scored 37 goals to help Chelsea win the Double last season, had an operation to help speed up his recovery but still needed the go-ahead from Fifa to be allowed to play wearing a protective arm cast.

Ivory Coast were taking on Portugal this afternoon in their opening match in Group G and FIFA's head of media, Nicolas Maingot, confirmed the green light had been given following consultation with Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz and the match referee.

He said: “Regarding Didier Drogba, the referee of the match, Jorge Larrionda, has okayed the cast which Didier will use to play. The cast has been seen by the Portuguese delegation.”

Chelsea are hoping that Drogba will be playing next season with German international Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The Blues have been linked with a £25million move for the Germany international, who impressed in the 4-0 win against Australia. The club needs to strengthen their midfield, having already agreed to release Michael Ballack and Joe Cole, while Deco is also expected to be sold.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is looking to bring some fresh talent to Stamford Bridge and the 25-year-old fits the bill. But Bayern Munich, who successfully held off Chelsea's interest in Franck Ribery and convinced him to sign a new deal, are adamant he is also staying.

When asked about the future of Schweinsteiger and other star player Philipp Lahm, sporting director Christian Nerlinger said: “Lahm and Schweinsteiger are our crown jewels. They are not for sale.”

Chelsea look certain to have better luck with Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun amid reports he has already agreed terms on a four-year deal worth £60,000 a week. Liverpool were demanding £10m for him but a fee of around £6.5m is understood to have been agreed. Benayoun is expected to have a medical at the end of the week.

Ashley Cole & Wayne Rooney Take Part In England Training Session

England have today been boosted by the presence of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole at training in South Africa today.

The pair had been missing from the main session on Monday and had trained in the pool, along with injured Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King.

Rooney reportedly suffered a knock to his ankle in the weekend game against the United States, whilst Cole needed an extra day to recover from his exertions on Saturday.

Gareth Barry also took a full part in the session as the likelihood grows that he will return to the Three Lions line-up on Friday against Algeria.

Summary Of A Season: Juliano Belletti

No one last season fulfilled the role of 'squad player' more than Juliano Belletti who played right-back, left-back and several positions in midfield during the nine months.

He earned an English league winners' medal to add to his Spanish titles as reward for making 11 Premier League appearances, four of them starts, and he was on the pitch during the final two games that sealed the Double, although his FA Cup Final will be remembered for conceding an ultimately not-damaging penalty.

A troublesome Achilles delayed Belletti's start to the league campaign but he returned as a second-half substitute for Jose Bosingwa in late August when a win against Burnley was already in the bag.

His first three appearances were all as a sub, including stints as a holding and a right-sided midfielder, before his first start, on the right of a midfield diamond when neighbours QPR came calling in the Carling Cup.

With none of the usual free-kick takers on the pitch that night, it fell to Belletti to give the ball a real Brazilian-style thump from 35 yards, but the shot was saved. Unfortunately in 2009/10, Chelsea fans weren't treated to one of the long-range goals he had smashed in during his previous two Chelsea years.

In that September game he did embark on a tremendous 50-yard run that nearly ended in a QPR own goal.

Belletti was called upon again the next match when John Mikel Obi was forced off at half-time at Wigan but although the Nigerian was ruled out for six weeks, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack were preferred by Carlo Ancelotti to fill the gap.

There were however four starts for Belletti at right-back over the period with Jose Boswinga's season over, Paulo Ferreira not in the Champions League squad and Branislav Ivanovic required in central defence at times.

One of those matches was a club-record-breaking 12th straight home victory, when Wolves were beaten 4-0.

The early, icy weeks of 2010 should have been Belletti's prolonged moment in the Chelsea spotlight due to African internationals taking others away.

'I spoke with Carlo after pre-season and said I can help the team, not just as a right-back but also in midfield in the absence of Mikel and Essien, and at this moment in January the team needs me,' he told the Official Chelsea Website in January.

The 33-year-old was needed to protect the back four but after three games, including a 7-2 win over Sunderland in which he had a hand in two goals, he suffered an injured knee early on at Preston in the FA Cup and was in recovery for a month.

He returned just in time to add decoy to the list of jobs taken on during the campaign, Ancelotti alluding to using him as an emergency left-back against Inter in the San Siro before selecting Florent Malouda there instead.

During his time in English football, conceding fouls in potentially dangerous positions had been a problem for Belletti, and it was with such actions that his Chelsea career unfortunately came to an end.

He was out-paced by Craig Bellamy 16 minutes after coming in the 4-2 home defeat by Man City, conceding a penalty and receiving a red card.

There was half an hour's action the glorious day when the League was won - his final appearance at the Bridge, but after replacing injured Michael Ballack in the FA Cup Final, it took seven minutes of play before a foul in the area on Aruna Dindane led to another penalty.

Happily Petr Cech did get something on the ball when the Portsmouth spot-kick was struck, clearing the way for the collection of a second major medal in a week as the farewell moment for a good servant who leaves at the end of his contract.

Adrian Mutu Ordered To Pay Chelsea €17Million Compensation Rules Swiss Court

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has been told he will have to pay Chelsea €17million in compensation in relation to his cocaine case after losing his appeal, the Swiss Federal Court said in a statement on Monday.

Mutu was sacked by Chelsea in 2004 after he tested positive for cocaine. And, after a five year legal case, Switzerland's Supreme Court upheld the CAS decision (Court for Arbitration in Sport) that he must pay compensation to the Premier League club.

Mutu had appealed to the CAS against FIFA's decision to award Chelsea compensation following his sacking because he breached his contract.

The CAS upheld FIFA's decision last year, leaving Mutu to appeal to the Swiss court. However, their decision this morning means he will have to pay the English club.

A statement from the court reads:

"It reached the conclusion that this was not the case and the Romanian footballer's appeal was unfounded."

The Associated Press claims the striker has been ordered to pay €17,173,990 plus an annual interest of five percent applied from 2008. He will also have to pay the legal fees of €104,000.

Mutu is currently banned following a double doping test failure in January. Last week Fiorentina confirmed he was for sale.

Hamburg To Challenge Manchester United For Ballack

Following reports yesterday that Manchester United will offer Michael Ballack a one-year contract, German daily Bild claims that Hamburg are doing all that they can to lure the 33-year-old.

The Germany captain was released last week by Chelsea after four years at Stamford Bridge. Ballack had rejected a 12-month extension to his Chelsea contract, wanting a two-year deal instead.

Newspaper reports in the UK yesterday speculated that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson would look to bring Ballack to Old Trafford for an initial year, with the option of an extension.

However, Bild claims that Hamburg have set their sights on Ballack. The club has apparently enlisted the help of billionaire supporter Klaus-Michael Kuehne, who currently lives in Switzerland, to fund the deal.

Ballack himself has refused to express a preference for Manchester United, Hamburg or any other club, telling Bild, "I have some offers… and will sort the requests in the coming week."

Ballack scored four goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea last season, but was ruled out of the World Cup having suffered an ankle injury during the FA Cup final.

Yossi Benayoun Set For Chelsea Move

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun is close to quitting Anfield in favour of joining Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 30-year-old Israeli winger has been holding talks over a £6million switch to Stamford Bridge with Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Benayoun — who scored six goals in 30 games for the Reds last season — is expected to move to west London on a four-year deal.

Last month, the former West Ham star said: "Ancelotti wants me for next season and now everything depends on Liverpool.

"Chelsea will have to pay some £6million but I believe that in the end I'll be moving there."

Chelsea Chase £16m Brazilian Striker

Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly interested in signing Brazilian striker Nilmar and is ready to make a move for the Villarreal man this summer as he looks to bring in new attacking options as long term replacements for ageing strike duo Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

25 year old Nilmar moved to the La Liga last summer and has a decent first season at Villarreal but the Castellon side may feel the need to sell after failing to secure European football for next term. The former Lyon man is sure to be interested in a move to the Premier League champions and could feel that a move is necessary in order to further his career progression and to help force his way into the Brazilian international starting eleven.

Roman Abramovich is happy to invest in squad improvements and after removing big earners Joe Cole and Michael Ballack from the wage bill the west London club can surely afford to bring in younger players to help balance out a rapidly ageing squad.

Joe Cole Highest Paid At The Emirates

Joe Cole will be offered a massive £135,000-a-week deal with Arsenal once he returns from World Cup duty with England.

Arsene Wenger has put together a whopping financial package that would make the former Chelsea star the highest-paid player at The Emirates.

We can reveal that Cole, 28, has only to sign on a free transfer and agree a four-year package worth £20million.

The deal works out at £4m a year plus an additional £2.5m a year in signing on fees.

That is what will boost his earnings to the whopping weekly wage that would take him past wantaway Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas – on £110,000 a week – as the biggest earner at the club.

The offer is sure to wreck Harry Redknapp’s bid to try to land Cole, with Tottenham unable to match the big money Arsenal are prepared to pay.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool were also said to be in the frame but it is the Gunners who will get their man, as the Daily Star Sunday revealed two weeks ago.

Cole suffered a serious injury last year and when he returned from the treatment table he did not figure as much as he would have liked in Carlo Ancelotti’s sides. And the Stamford Bridge boss refused to meet Cole’s wage demands of £120,000 a week to bring him in line with Frank Lampard and John Terry.

Cole scored the decisive goal of Chelsea’s Premier League title success against rivals United at Old Trafford in April.

And he made 26 top-flight Blues appearances but only started 14. He clearly did not do enough for Ancelotti to warrant a huge pay hike.

Now speculation is rife that Cole’s arrival in north London could help Fabregas, 23, in his wish to rejoin boyhood idols Barcelona, although Wenger wants to keep the Spaniard.

A source revealed: “The offer is on the table and has been agreed in principle by both parties.

“The only way Joe won’t go to Arsenal is if he suffers an injury during the World Cup or another club comes in with an improved offer late on.

“Arsene is mindful that Joe spent a long time out with a serious knee injury but if he comes through England’s campaign in South Africa then he knows he is completely over that.

“What he likes about Joe is his versatility. It could be argued that his arrival might take the pain out of losing Fabregas to Barcelona. That and around £45m, which is what they’ll have to spend to get him.”

Chelsea Defender Branislav Ivanovic Insists Serbia Can Bounce Back

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic believes Serbia can recover from their World Cup opening 1-0 defeat against Ghana on Sunday and stun Germany in the next game.

Asamoah Gyan's 84th-minute penalty settled the match in favour of the Black Stars after Serbia had been reduced to 10 men when Aleksandar Lukovic picked up a second booking.

Serbia now face an uphill battle to make it through to the last 16 and they face a real fight on their hands in their next Group D outing against Germany, who thrashed Australia 4-0, on Friday.

Ivanovic conceded it was a major blow to lose their opening match but is optimistic his side can turn things around ahead of the clash against the Germans in Port Elizabeth.

He said: 'When you lose it's very difficult, we were playing our first game of the World Cup against a very strong team and we lost, but we have the power to recover after this game and prepare well for the next game.'

Ivanovic also still has faith his side can secure one of the top two berths in Group D and a place in the knockout stages.

'We have to think like that. We are here out at the World Cup to show how anything is possible. Germany, of course, are a very strong team so we have to show that we can play against the big teams.'

Deco Keen To Take On Drogba

Portugal midfielder Deco is hoping for a World Cup reunion with Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.

Ivory Coast striker Drogba is facing a race against time to recover from the broken arm he suffered in the run-up to the finals, and the Africans are playing their cards close to their chest ahead of the Group G clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

However, while many of his compatriots could be forgiven for hoping that the former Marseille hitman misses out, Deco will be happy to lock horns with him.

"I haven't spoken to Didier and I don't now if he is going to play tomorrow, but I hope so because he is a friend," said Deco.

"He is a good player. He's a friend of mine and a Chelsea player. If he plays, it will be good for the game. I hope he plays."

There were initial fears that Drogba's tournament could be over before it had begun when he first sustained the injury during the Ivory Coast's warm-up game against Japan in Switzerland on June 4.

But, following successful surgery, there is a growing belief that he could yet have a significant role to play in South Africa, and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has been in the game too long to be surprised if his name appears on the teamsheet tomorrow afternoon.

Queiroz said: "What is important for me as the coach of the Portuguese national team is to worry about my own players.

"Obviously, I'm not a doctor, so I can't sat if Didier Drogba is going to be playing. It is a fracture and the doctors from the Ivory Coast together with [coach] Mr [Sven-Goran] Eriksson will have to make that decision.

"But, after 30 years in football, there's nothing that surprises me. Whether he plays or not, nothing would surprise me."

The Portugal squad flew into Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg this afternoon and headed straight to the stadium to train, but they did so with Manchester United midfielder Nani back in Lisbon nursing a shoulder injury.

He has been quoted as saying he could be fit again within a week, sparking rumours that his departure from South Africa was for reasons other than his fitness.

They have been firmly denied by the Portuguese camp, though, and Queiroz was not being drawn into the debate today.

He said: "Tomorrow, we are going to be playing the Ivory Coast in our first game in the World Cup.

"If Nani is ready in four days, that's wonderful, but the most important thing is for us to focus on our goal tomorrow.

"So, with all due respect to Nani, that is what we are focusing on.

"We can talk about that [the Nani situation] later."

On that subject, Deco admitted he and his team-mates were in the dark.

He said: "What I heard was that he [Nani] broke his shoulder and that it would be difficult for him to be ready to play because the recuperation time would be quite long.

"As players, we don't really have that kind of information. We speak to Nani and it's obvious that any player who is out feels a lot of frustration and in his case, I am sure he's feeling that way.

"He was hoping to have played and he still hopes to be able to play."

Portugal have been drawn into a tough group with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, and Queiroz knows there will be a major fight for the two available berths in the last 16.

He said: "With all due respect to North Korea, there are three teams for two places.

"We could be the best three teams at the World Cup, but the regulations only allow two to go forward.

"What is important is that we win tomorrow. A World Cup is something that doesn't allow you to make mistakes, so from the beginning, we want to get the three points.

"But we have nine points to play for and the first three points are as important as the last."

Summary Of A Season: Didier Drogba

From the moment his two-goal salvo turned a deficit into victory on the opening day versus Hull, the signs were good that Didier Drogba could pick up where he left off the previous season when a drifting Chelsea career was set firmly back on course under Guus Hiddink.

The early season formation adopted by the Dutchman's successor, Carlo Ancelotti, allowed Drogba to play close to Nicolas Anelka, and he had previously expressed a preference for a strike partner. At Fulham in the second away game each set up the other for a goal in a 2-0 win.

Then at Stoke the tried and tested link up with Frank Lampard was in full working order as Drogba latched onto the midfielder's clever pass and sent a truly unstoppable left-footed drive into the far corner.

The striker was now locked into an incredibly consistent run of scoring. By Christmas he had found the net 18 times in 21 games with only seven blank matches among them.

At Wigan he scored his 100th Chelsea goal on his 225th appearance although it was also the season's first defeat. Drogba described it as the worst performance since he'd joined in 2004. He had a point.

His Champions League campaign began in a familiar fashion - with a suspension - but when he did kick-off in Europe, he looked to have turned around a match in Madrid with two goals until Atletico's Sergio Aguero struck for a second time on the night.

In late November our Number 11 was an accessory to what many marked down as the most deluded moment of the season - Arsene Wenger declaring 'Drogba didn't do much' following Chelsea's 3-0 defeat of Arsenal - our best result at their stadium since the previous visit there!

The Gunners' manager did commend the player's efficiency, which included opening the scoring, pressuring one of his defenders into an own goal and then rifling in a free-kick.

All was going well at the point and the team had a clear lead in the league table but there followed a December downturn in results before Drogba signed off for a month of international duty with a goal at home to Fulham.

Against the predictions of the doom merchants, Chelsea flourished in the absence of our Africans although the fixtures could have been tougher. Ivory Coast didn't flourish in Angola and it cost their manager his job.

On his early return to club duty at Hull, Drogba scored his third direct free-kick of the season but the result was a disappointing draw following five straight wins. The first murmured questions began. Did Carlo Ancelotti have a conundrum to think about? Does the team actually play better without their most potent attacker?

There was no doubting he was to be first on the team sheet for the next game - Arsenal at home - and he duly landed another double whammy on the north Londoners. The second goal was Drogba at his rampaging best and made it 12 goals in 12 games against Arsenal.

Results were up and down in February and March. Drogba went three games without scoring which was a close as he came to a barren spell in 2009/10. Anelka's goals following a healthy December and January, had dried up completely.

As Champions League ambition faded once again, Drogba was sent off near the end of defeat by Inter, maintaining his now nearly traditional ban for the start of the next Euro campaign. It was his one red card of the season.

Having scored two at Portsmouth a week later, Drogba was rested for a visit by Villa which Chelsea won 7-1. It was the game before a potentially season-defining match at Old Trafford, and in the days in between he suffered injury and missed some training.

Recovered sufficiently to make the journey, the manager decided to use his top scorer as a second-half substitute and reaped the reward. A good team performance throughout was capped by what proved to be a Drogba winner.

By now, and like so many previous seasons, back in the middle of a three-man attack, the lacklustre display at Spurs was happily a blip in the season's run-in.

The high-scoring victories (of which there were a few) had strangely been by achieved by a Drogba-less team line-up, but that was remedied when he was part of a 7-0 win over Stoke , even if he didn't make the score sheet that day.

A Steven Gerrard assist at Liverpool put Chelsea on the threshold of the league title and Drogba poised to snatch the Golden Boot out of the grasp of Wayne Rooney.

An historic 8-0 win and a second-half hat-trick was the way to do it, even if the first 45 minutes did contain a moment of anxiety about his personal tally for our centre-forward.

His winner in the FA Cup Final meant the season had a pair of Ivorian bookends - a Drogba goal at its start and at its finish.

Voted Player of the Year by the fans, Drogba's 37 goals is the second best total in Chelsea history and included strikes at Anfield, the Emirates and Old Trafford. He also notched his sixth goal in six Wembley finals and seventh in all cup finals - a club record.

Now aged 32 and with (if his broken arm allows) a World Cup campaign this summer, there will be people doubting Drogba has another season in him like the trophy and goal-laden one just past.

Marcel Desailly Tells Ancelotti To Buy Big

Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has urged manager Carlo Ancelotti to buy a big name to ensure they stay at the top.

“If they don’t, then I will worry about them,” he said.

The French World Cup winner warned the Blues not to rest on their laurels after last season’s Double triumph.

He claims it’s more important a five-star player arrives now they’ve lost Joe Cole, although he was not surprised when Chelsea released veteran Michael Ballack.

Desailly, 41, won the World and European Cups, and two Champions League trophies before joining Chelsea in 1998, playing 159 league games for the Blues.

He said: “The next Chelsea signing will be so important. When I was at AC Milan we won the title and the Champions League.

“We thought we were untouchable, maybe even thinking it was easy. Yet they went out and signed George Weah, then the best player in the world. ‘Pow!’ It hit us. Here we thought we couldn’t get better then he arrived and we were up and running again. He lifted us from our settees.

“The club needed it, I needed it. We felt strong once more, ready to go forward.

“The following year five Dutchmen arrived, top names but somehow it didn’t work in the same way as Weah.

“So that is why Chelsea’s next signing must be a significant one. A world-class player, no matter what the cost.

“You can’t fight off age, so some need a boost. It must come in the way of a Weah.”

Mourinho Has No Intention Of Selling Kaka To Chelsea

New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is not looking to offload Brazilian star Kaka to Chelsea and instead is convinced that he can bring the best out of the 28-year-old.

Kaka struggled at Real Madrid last season, following his £56million switch from AC Milan last summer. A troublesome thigh injury limited Kaka’s chances at the Bernebeu.

There has been speculation that Kaka would welcome a reunion with his former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, having failed to make an impact at Real Madrid. Under Ancelotti, Kaka enjoyed a highly successful spell at the San Siro, becoming one of the world's top players. It has been reported that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has sanctioned a £50million bid for Kaka.

However, Spanish daily Marca reports this morning that Mourinho has instructed Bernabeu officials not to listen to any offers for the Brazilian and that the 'special one' is convinced that he can return Kaka to his best form.

Marca quotes Mourinho saying, "Kaka has lost esteem in recent months, but there will be no problem returning him to his best. A player needs to have a high level of confidence."

Chelsea Leading Manchester City In Chase For Silva

According to this morning's News of the World, Chelsea have edged ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign Valencia's David Silva.

Silva has been at Valencia for almost his entire career and has established himself as one of Spain's top players. In 2009/2010, the 24-year-old scored nine goals and provided ten assists in 38 appearances for financially stricken Valencia. With six goals in 33 internationals, Silva is expected to star for Spain during the World Cup.

Valencia recently sold David Villa to Barcelona for £40million, but the cash-strapped club need to offload further stars and Silva is expected to fetch a price of at least £20million.

Although Manchester City are apparently able to offer Silva a bigger salary than Chelsea, Silva is more interested in signing for Chelsea, who can offer him Champions League football next season.

Silva's agent, Amadeo Rengel said, "The option of Chelsea is the most interesting in terms of the sporting project."

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is keen to add top names to his squad, which would show the ambition of the club, despite the failure to secure Champions League football last season.

Meanwhile, Valencia president Manuel Llorente has refused to rule out a move for Silva to any club, saying candidly, "We have received calls about Silva but no concrete offers.

"Right now nothing is out of the question because we need to safeguard the future of the club."

Serbia And Chelsea Defender Branislav Ivanovic Admits To Nerves

Chelsea full back Branislav Ivanovic has admitted that nerves are playing a big part in Serbia’s training camp ahead of their opening game of the world cup against Ghana.

Speaking about the mood among the players as the nation prepares itself for their first world cup as an independent country, Ivanovic said: "It's the normal thing, we're feeling a little bit nervous before the start of the World Cup because for every player it's very important to play at the World Cup.

"We're feeling nervous but we're positive and I think we're ready."

Talking at a press conference, Ivanovic continued by saying it is a major plus for his side that they will not be lining up against Blues team-mate Michael Essien in the Group D game.

"Mike [Michael Essien] is a fantastic player, and it's very difficult for him because he has two big injuries and he cannot take a risk but for us it's good of course that he can't play. For me I think he's one of the best midfielders in the world."

Essien was ruled out of the tournament after failing to recover from knee and ankle injuries that have seen him not play competitive football since December.

Serbia finished above 1998 world champions and 2006 runners-up France as they finished top of group seven in the qualifying for the world cup, collecting 22 points and only conceding 8 goals in the process.

Frank Lampard And Steven Gerrard Prove They Can Play Together

Too similar, some will say. They get in each other’s way. It has to be one or the other for the sake of the team.

During the World Cup qualifying period, the issue died down because Fabio Capello kept them apart by using Gerrard on the left and Lampard in more of a holding role in central midfield. All was fine and dandy.

It was different on Saturday night against USA though. The Liverpool and Chelsea boys were paired again, slap bang in the middle of a four-man midfield. Would they work things out for this crucial opening game?

Well, it took only four minutes to get some kind of an answer, that’s if creating a goal counts in any way. Both were involved. First, Lampard received Glen Johnson’s throw-in about 30 yards from goal before trying to find Wayne Rooney.

The effort didn’t find its target and Lampard was arguably fouled as he released the ball but, fortunately for England, his attempted pass ran through to Emile Heskey who, for all the criticism he has received down the years, knew exactly what to do with his first-time lay-off. It was perfect and justified Capello’s decision to start him.

And here comes the main point. Gerrard had made one of his trademark forward runs that we all know so well. The perfectly timed sort that cuts through a rearguard into the penalty box.

Not only that, he made that run because he was working off Lampard. His partner, admittedly, was in a fairly advanced position, but it wasn’t far enough forward to discourage England’s captain.

One touch to set it, the second to clinically finish. After only four minutes, Gerrard had made a convincing argument for the possible efficiency of this partnership.

More promising still, Gerrard went on to enjoy a fantastic first half, tearing about like a man on a mission, which, of course, he was.

Bombing forward, tackling back, while Lampard, in the main, played a more conservative role by holding his position, only venturing forward at the right time.

That’s all it took - a bit of common sense.

As for whether this axis will continue into the next game against Algeria on Friday, well, you have to doubt it.

When push comes to shove, Capello prefers a more conservative style in that area. Gareth Barry is likely to return and resume his previously successful partnership with Lampard.

Still, it was good while it lasted. That is until Robert Green’s dreadful howler five minutes before half-time changed everything.

Apart from perhaps closing down Clint Dempsey quicker, there was nothing either Gerrard or Lampard could do about that.

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.