Kalou Cheering The Blues

Salomon Kalou admits he will be cheering his Chelsea team-mates on when England take on Germany.

Kalou and Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba are already out of the World cup with Ivory Coast, while fellow Blues forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home by France and Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic have also exited.

Portugal's Deco and Paulo Ferreira remain in the tournament, as do John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole, and Kalou hopes the England quartet will do the business to help lift the spirits when the players return to pre-season training at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "I don't think it has been too good a World Cup for Chelsea's players.

"Hopefully the English boys will do better so when we do get back we will have some positive things to talk about from the World Cup.

"I hope England beat Germany. I will watch the game and cheer for JT, Lampsy and Joe Cole.

"I hope they have a great game to put England into the next round."

Ivory Coast exited the tournament after an opening goalless stalemate with Portugal, a 3-1 defeat to Brazil and then a closing 3-0 win over North Korea, in which Kalou scored.

Reflecting on the campaign, Kalou added: "It is difficult to say I am disappointed because we did a good job against Portugal, we had some bad luck against Brazil and the third game we won.

"We will keep the positives and work very hard to get to that level.

"It has been a very good experience for us playing against Portugal and Brazil.

"Hopefully in the next World Cup we will get an easier group and we can make it to the next round."

Kalou believed the Ivorians had shown too much respect in the game against Brazil.

He said: "If there are any regrets it was Brazil. I don't believe we played at our level.

"Maybe we were a little intimidated to play against Brazil - you have to play at your best.

"Portugal - perhaps we should have tried to win the game. We started well and pushed it and created chances but didn't put the ball in the net.

"When you have chances like that you have to take them."

Chelsea Chase £17m-Rated AC Milan Striker Marco Borriello

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to make a £17 million move for AC Milan striker Marco Borriello, according to Mediaset.

The Italian hit man blossomed at the San Siro last season and notched 14 goals in Serie A. Despite missing the cut for Marcello Lippi's World Cup 2010 squad, he remains a highly-rated player.

His emergence has alerted the Blues boss to his talent after he failed to make the mark when they were together at the San Siro.

A big money bid from the west London outfit would be hard to turn down by the cash-strapped club, especially as they look to fund a move for Brazil hot-shot Luis Fabiano.

Chelsea Midfielder Deco Hints At Brazil Return With Fluminense

Chelsea midfielder Deco has reiterated his desire to move back to his native country of Brazil in the summer.

The Portugal international, on the books of Chelsea since 2008, has made no secret of his wish to return to Brazil after 13 years in Europe.

Deco, who returned to full training today following a hip injury, has now repeated his desire to depart the Blues after the World Cup.

"My wish to go back to Brazil is due to personal issues, stronger than football issues," Deco told Maisfutebol.

"If that happens, Fluminense are the club closest to signing me."

Portugal have reached the Round of 16 after Friday's goalless draw with Brazil, and Deco has now shaken off pressure from the Seleccao.

"We can't consider Portugal as favourites because we don't have tradition in World Cups, but I always said that we had chances," he said.

"Now, we are in the Round of 16. The hope rises and the dream is closer."

Tottenham Set To Seal £17.1m Deal To Sign Joe Cole

If Arsenal pull out of the race due to excessive wage demands and with Man United already stating they are not interested in the England international, the path is pretty much clear for Harry Redknapp to reunite with the former West Ham man.

The three year deal Joe Cole wants will cost the White Hart Lane club £17.1m and whilst that may sound steep its worth noting that the attacking midfielder would cost around £20m in transfer fees alone and in many ways the 28 year old could be the final part of the Tottenham jigsaw puzzle.

The offer to join Spurs is of course made sweeter now the club has Champions League football to offer and though Redknapp already has a fantastic squad the addition of a vastly experienced and incredibly talented player like Cole can only be an added bonus and in many ways a player too good to turn down.

African Stars Didier Drogba And Samuel Eto'o Were Under Too Much Pressure - Patrick Viera

Patrick Viera insists there was too much pressure placed on African stars such as Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o at the World Cup.

The former French captain believes that the stars lacked the support from their team-mates, which has resulted in five out of six African teams being eliminated at the group stage.

Vieira said: "It is quite difficult to understand, some of the big names play in Europe and when they come back to their national teams they struggle a lot.

"Players like Drogba and Eto'o, when they play for their clubs there are other stars who share the pressure but when they come into the national team the people expect them to win games by themselves.

"They will make a difference but they cannot win a game by themselves. It is important for other players not to expect one player to make the difference - some players lay back and expect the big players to make a difference on their own. Other players must take responsibility as well."

The new rule which allows African players to represent the countries of their parents or grandparents even if they have played at national youth level in another country will continue to be beneficial according to Viera, who was born in Senegal.

"I never had a choice to make, I was in the French youth team and never had contact with the Senegal national team, but I don't have any regrets.

“But now there is a new rule so that if you got in the youth team (for one country) you can go and play in the senior team (of another).

"You can see the Algeria team, some of them played in the French youth team but played for the Algerian (senior) team. This is a good change for African countries, which will make them stronger."

My Favourite Games: Didier Drogba

The Champions League is never quiet with Didier Drogba around, and it was from that competition he picked out his two major footballing memories.

Favourite game played:

After travelling to Anfield and giving Liverpool a 3-1 thumping, Chelsea hosted the Reds in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a comfortable lead already established.

With that in mind, many expected Liverpool to attack when they arrived at Stamford Bridge, which they did, but it would be fair to say no one predicted the eight-goal thriller that ensued.

By half-time Liverpool were 2-0 up, after Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso both found the net inside the first 30 minutes, but by the 75-minute mark Chelsea had made it 3-2 in our favour.

Drogba struck first, then Alex, then Frank Lampard as the crowd inside Stamford Bridge erupted.

But Liverpool were far from done and five minutes after Chelsea's third, Lucas made it 3-3 and only a minute later Dirk Kuyt netted the visitor's fourth.

By now you could have cut through the tension inside the stadium with a knife, as Blues everywhere wished for one last Chelsea goal to see us safely through.

And even though it was irrelevant to the cause, as a 4-3 loss would have seen Chelsea progress to the next round anyway, with only one minute of normal time left to play, Lampard made it four.

'It was an amazing night at Stamford Bridge and nobody expected it to be like that,' explains Drogba. 'We started badly but we came back once and then did it again, and the atmosphere in the stadium was special, I will always remember it.'

Favourite game watched:

Many who played in it would pick it as their favourite, yet suspension meant Drogba had to watch from the sidelines.

When we hosted Barcelona in the Champions League first knockout round in 2005, an outstanding game of football unfolded. It was a game that placed Chelsea back among Europe's greats and provided a couple of the decade's greatest goals.

After building a 3-0 lead in the first half, following strikes from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff, Ronaldhino pulled one back for the visitors with a penalty after Paulo Ferreira handled in the area.

But it was the Brazilian's second that most will remember, when he made a simple flick look astoundingly complex, as his shot from the edge of the box flew past Ricardo Carvalho and into the top left.

Fortunately it was the last goal the Spanish giants could muster and when John Terry headed home Duff's out-swinging corner, our place in the next round was sealed.

'My favourite game to watch was when we beat Barcelona 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in 2005,' explains the Ivorian.

'I was suspended for the game so watched from the side and it was a brilliant night for Chelsea, it was fantastic.'

Ballack Defends Move

Michael Ballack refuses to see his move from Chelsea to Bayer Leverkusen as a step down in his career and has set his sights on winning more silverware with the Bundesliga club. The Germany captain yesterday completed his return to Leverkusen, signing a two-year contract with the side where he first rose to prominence between 1999 and 2002.

Although Ballack's last spell with them ended in triple disappointment with defeat in the UEFA Champions League final, a runners-up spot in the Bundesliga and an agonising DFB-Pokal final loss, he has returned to put things right by winning trophies.

"We want to win the league in the near future," he proclaimed. "My ambitions are still very high. I have always been playing to win trophies over the last decade and we can do that with Bayer too. Of course Bayern are the top favourites, but there is such great potential here in Leverkusen and we should also go a long way in Europe."

Ballack has spent the last four years in England with the Blues, but he admitted he was not tempted to remain abroad when he learnt his contract was not going to be extended. "As soon as I knew I was leaving Chelsea, our first thought was to return to Germany," he revealed. "That is our home and we are happy there. We should settle there for the future."

Ballack, who was forced out of the FIFA World Cup with an ankle injury sustained in Chelsea's FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth has signed a two-year contract with Leverkusen but claims he could play on longer, as long as he remains fit.

"Of course I still want to play for the national team and I have my eyes on Euro 2012," he said. "I will be 35 then and we will have to see nearer the time what happens (with a new contract). My health also plays a very big role."

Ballack will be given his favourite number 13 shirt with Leverkusen, but he may not necessarily be handed the captain's armband. And he claims he is not concerned about who leads the team onto the field for their first Bundesliga match of the season on August 21.

"That is up to the coach," he said. "I don't have to be the captain to assume responsibility. Simon Rolfes is a great captain and has filled the position well and I think that it will remain that way."

Keepers Share Shoot-out Secrets

Petr Cech and Oliver Kahn have revealed the tricks used by goalkeepers when it comes to penalties.

Draws are no longer an option in the World Cup with the group phase now over, so a number of games are likely to be settled by spot-kicks over the next couple of weeks.

Penalty shoot-outs are nervy occasions for players and supporters alike, although many goalkeepers claim to relish the chance to become heroes.

With the odds stacked heavily in favour of those trying to score, former Germany and Bayern Munich keeper Kahn admits he had to become attuned to the subtlest of signs from his opponent.

"You can read a lot from the body language of the shooter and where he will be shooting," said Khan.

"It is a psychological game between the goalkeeper and the taker. It has a lot to do with eye contact and body language.

"You can irritate the shooter with your body language, you can see whether a player is fearful and you can see from the eyes of a taker if he makes a small mistake into which corner that ball will go."

Cech, who plays for Chelsea and Czech Republic, concedes that goalkeepers also have psychological battles with themselves ahead of a penalty.

"You do your homework, you know where the player can shoot, what is his habit, if he waits for the goalkeeper or if he chooses the corner," Cech said.

"But you need to be strong, stay calm, try to keep your homework working, then you have a chance of saving the ball."

Although Khan did his homework when Bayern beat Valencia on penalties in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final, he did not use what he had learned.

"I still remember very clearly. I was working with my coach to figure out what all the players' tactics were," Kahn recalled.

"But (on the field) I forgot all of that. I (went) straight into a phase of absolute concentration."

Kahn accepts that concentration and mind games alone will not help a goalkeeper make a crucial penalty save.

He added: "You always need a certain amount of luck."

Cole: We Want To Win Something

Joe Cole has revealed his displeasure at England's 'Golden Generation' tag but believes they may finally live up to it by winning the FIFA 2010 World Cup™. The former Chelsea midfielder feels the title is undeserved given England have failed to win a major tournament with that group of players.

But Cole believes this is "our time" regarding England as they gear up for tomorrow's last-16 meeting with old rivals Germany in Bloemfontein. He revealed: "We don't like to be called the Golden Generation. That was put upon us. We don't like it because we've not won anything. I remember the Portugal team who were called the same and they never won anything either. We want to win something. Then people can rightly call us that."

But Cole conceded: "I think we can do it this time. I've never felt it like this before in other tournaments. You always think you can do it but this time I think it's our time and we can do it if the country believes. I thought it was an excellent performance against Slovenia and we can't wait to get to grips with Germany.

"The history between the two countries is immense and the 1990 World Cup was the first tournament I watched. I can remember when Gazza (Paul Gascoigne) got booked and we lost on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals."

Cole has never taken a penalty in professional football during a career with West Ham United, Chelsea and England spanning more than a decade, but he is willing to put any trepidation to one side and take one against Germany if required should spot-kicks again be needed to decide the outcome.

"I've never taken a professional penalty because when I was at West Ham Paolo Di Canio took them," he said. "Frank Lampard takes them at Chelsea and David Beckham always did for England - but that's not to say I wouldn't take one. It takes more of a man to step up and take one rather than shy away. I'm hoping there'll be no surprise and they'll fall to the (Steven) Gerrards, (Frank) Lampards and (Wayne) Rooneys but if the manager asks me, I'll be there."

Didier Drogba Disappointed With Exit

Ivory Coast were knocked out of the World Cup on Friday afternoon despite defeating North Korea 3-0 in their final Group G match. The three points bagged against the Asian minnows were not enough for the Elephants as Portugal drew 0-0 with Brazil to finish second in the group and qualify for the last 16.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was understandably disappointed after the match but maintained an optimistic outlook towards the future.

"If we were in a better group maybe we would go through. I think we were unlucky both times in the World Cup," the 32-year-old has been quoted by AP as saying.

"We are disappointed, but at the same time we can't be too disappointed when you are in a group like this with Portugal and Brazil. We are a good team and we have good players but I think those two teams are better than us.

"For a country like Ivory Coast to be in a World Cup twice in a row is something fantastic.

"Knowing that in the past we have never been there before, to play against Brazil and Portugal, two of the best nations of the football world, it's like a dream for our country."

Ricardo Carvalho Delighted To Be In Last 16

In what was a dull encounter, Portugal qualified for the second round of the World Cup by drawing 0-0 with Brazil in their final game in Group G.

Goal.com's Ewan Macdonald was present at the game in Durban and after the match he spoke to Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho along with the other reporters. The Chelsea centre-back expressed his delight at having qualified for the knockout stages and hinted that he wouldn't lose sleep on who they will face next.

"Yes, of course [I am delighted with second round qualification]. A draw would have been enough for us, we knew that. Brazil are very strong but they had one or two results, like us, so I think a draw is a fair result.

"I can't control that [who we face in the second round], so we need to wait for tonight to decide what we can't control. Of course it would be better to be first, but you never know. We just have to wait."

Speaking on the England-Germany clash in the last 16, Carvalho stated that England have a real chance to beat their old adversaries and progress in the tournament.

"Of course, they can beat the Germans, but you never know in football," the Chelsea defender said before adding that he has not spoken to his club-mate John Terry and that he doesn't "even have his number".

Michael Ballack Is Germany's Secret Weapon

Former Chelsea star Michael Ballack has been rumbled as a double-agent.

Ballack, 33, who has joined Bayer Leverkusen after being shown the Stamford Bridge door, has been helping the Germans compile dossiers on England.

German boss Joachim Low revealed Ballack could be his secret weapon for Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash.

Ballack has been giving the in-side track on former team-mates, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Low said: “I have talked to Michael many times about the Premier League and we had a good chat two or three months ago about individual players such as Lampard.

“He knows a lot about these players and we have comprehensive information at our disposal.”

Low stayed in the training camp studying videos while his young side visited a lion park yesterday morning.

“I’m happy to report that none of my players got eaten! There is no fear in anyone’s eyes,” he said.

“There is a tension, yes, but it is healthy stage fright. We won’t go into the game hiding our heads in the sand.

“We are young, but are we nice? I don’t think that comes into it. You should see them in training.”

Skipper Philipp Lahm laughed off suggestions Fabio Capello’s Three Lions were lying in wait.

He said: “Yes, we saw lions but it was more of a petting zoo so we had some young cubs in our arms.

“On Sunday the treatment we give to the lions we face will be more aggressive than this morning.”

Low says his men must listen to all the info passed on to them or risk being ripped apart.

“Give Wayne Rooney and Lampard lots of space and they can be unstoppable. England have a fantastic fighting spirit and burning ambition.

“The axis of their team – Terry, Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney is just amazing.

“But there is no fear, maybe a few nerves. There are many chapters in the book of Anglo- German encounters and this is the latest.

“They are usually full of sparks. The English have a never-say-die attitude. They are known for their fight and commitment.”

Low said he had ignored rumours of unrest in the opposition camp.

“England are strong mentally and have great experience,” he said.

“It is not the end of the world if they sit together and ask what they can change.”

Defoe Hails Ashley Cole

Jermain Defoe has hailed Ashley Cole as "the best left-back in the world" ahead of England's World Cup clash with Germany in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Chelsea defender Cole has attracted unwanted headlines off the pitch regarding events in his private life and seldom gives interviews these days.

But Tottenham striker Defoe has no doubts about the footballing qualities of the 29-year-old, who made his England debut nearly a decade ago in a World Cup qualifier in Albania.

Cole returned from injury towards the end of the domestic season to help Chelsea clinch a Barclays Premier League and FA Cup double.

He then clocked up his 81st England cap in the 1-0 win over Slovenia on Wednesday.

That set up a last-16 meeting with Germany, with Cole one of the survivors from the side which defeated England's old rivals 5-1 in Munich nine years ago.

Defoe, who scored England's winner against the Slovenians, said: "Ashley is brilliant. For me, he is the best left-back in the world. I was saying that to someone, I think it was Shaun (Wright-Phillips).

"It is different when you are playing to looking in from the outside. You can appreciate how good someone is.

"With the movement, sometimes Stevie G (Gerrard) will come inside and Ashley will overlap. We work on that in training.

"When Ashley gets into the final third of the pitch, he is really relaxed and can pass it.

"He is still talking about the three goals he scored last season for Chelsea."

Defoe added: "His energy is unbelievable - what an athlete. He is the best and he has been like that for years.

"To have that consistency at the top level for so long is special."

Blues On Parade Around The World

Supporters clubs on either side of the globe took part in their own Double-winning bus parades at the end of our successful 2009/10 season.

Not to be outdone by the parade in SW6, fans in both New York and Hong Kong organised their own open-top buses to take an array of supporters along their local streets.

Anson Mui was the man behind Hong Kong Island's parade, made all the more special by the fact the region is populated heavily by Manchester United fans, while Mike Neat arranged New York's parade.

'We wanted to be loud and proud,' said Neat, 'and we wanted an audience which meant heading to a couple of tourist-infested areas of Manhattan.

'We received many bemused looks and smiles along with a few shouts from fellow fans and fans of other teams. One fan on the street actually began a "Super Frank" chant for us on the bus. Naturally, quite a few people on the street turned their cameras on us,' added Neat, who also helped raise $1,000 for charity during the event.

Both cities boast a healthy Chelsea following as the Blues have infiltrated the west and east, with over 500 fans involved in the Official Chelsea Supporters' Club Hong Kong.

Held on 30 May, the parade in Hong Kong took three hours to complete as fans sang Chelsea songs and held a quiz to give away merchandise sponsored by the club's Megastore.

'People on the street smiled and waved, although some were confused by what was going on,' explained Mui.

'And although it was raining, it was great fun. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and we were proud of being Chelsea fans. It was great for us all to get together and sing some Chelsea songs.'

The Blues have supporters' club branches all over the world but are consistently striving to find more.

Chelsea Link Up With Arizona Club

Chelsea Academy coaches will be heading to America this summer to bring top-level coaching to elite young players in Arizona.

In partnership with the Sereno Soccer Club, we will host an elite soccer camp for boys and girls ages eight to 16.

The camps, to be held July 11-16 at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will provide players with access to similar drills and practices our coaches at Cobham use to train our own Academy talent, offering a unique opportunity to develop technical skills.

Chelsea's head of international youth football development Jeff Bookman said: 'America has terrific young talent and Chelsea are dedicated to supporting youth soccer development in the States by bringing our esteemed staff of coaches and personnel to host camps, clinics and training programs.

'The Arizona soccer camp will highlight the same coaching philosophy we use for all levels of our club.'

The camp is part of Chelsea's ongoing commitment to the development of football in America. Since 2008, we have partnered with top clubs in America to establish the Chelsea US youth club network to share the Chelsea coaching philosophy, host training camps, sponsor tournaments and implement player and coaching exchange programs.

Sereno SC, which is part of the Chelsea US youth club network, is one of the leading soccer education and training organizations in the United States and is perennially ranked the number one youth soccer club in Arizona.

Over the past 30 years, the club has produced 46 Arizona State champion boys teams, 80 Arizona State champion girls teams, nine regional champions, three national finalists and one national champion.

Spurs Boss Harry Redknapp Wants To Sign Joe Cole

Harry Redknapp has admitted for the first time he is trying to sign Joe Cole.

But the Spurs boss faces a battle with North London rivals Arsenal to secure the signature of the Chelsea and England midfielder.

Redknapp said: "We've declared our interest in Joe to his agent but that is as far as it has gone.

"We are told Joe doesn't want to talk to anyone about any move until after the World Cup is over."

Cole, 28, is available on a free transfer after refusing new terms at Stamford Bridge and Redknapp is keen to work with him for a second time.

Cole was given his first-team break at West Ham when Redknapp bossed the Hammers, before moving to Chelsea for £6.5million seven years ago.

The England star was demanding a wage rise of around £30,000 on top of his £80,000-a-week salary to bring him in line with Chelsea's top earners but the Blues refused.

Arsenal have a strict wage policy but can get around it by offering Camden-born Cole a big signing-on fee as he will cost nothing.

Nicolas Anelka Aiming For More Titles After Signing New Deal

After signing a new contract extension at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is now aiming to take more silverware to west London next season.

The French forward, who was a key player for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winners last season, has scored 42 goals in 123 games for the Blues and has proved himself a formidable partner to Didier Drogba in the Chelsea frontline.

"I aim to score goals and win more titles," Anelka told Chelsea's official website.

"This is the most important thing for everybody, and to enjoy my football and give pleasure to the fans because they come to the games, they want to see good football, they want to see goals, they want to see wins, so this is what I will try to do and we will try to do as a team.

"We start in the league at home to West Brom, and it is nice to start at home - there will be a lot of fans there like always, it will not be an easy game against this kind of team who are newly promoted, but we have a big team and we will do our job."

Anelka also praised Carlo Ancelotti, the club's manager, believing that the Italian was a reason for his own good form last season, which saw him score 15 goals and create many more for his team-mates.

"He won a lot of things in Italy, and you know when you speak with someone like him, he understands what you want and you understand what he wants," continued Anelka.

"It is simple to work with him, easy.

"I know he tried to sign with me for Juventus, but I signed in Real Madrid, but now I am very glad to be here with him, he is a good person, a very good manager and I am glad to be here with him."

Chelsea Set To Snatch Real Madrid Youngster Alipio

Chelsea are set to re-ignite their interest in Real Madrid youngster Alipio after he was made a potential makeweight in Angel Di Maria's Benfica move, according to Marca.

The Brazilian youth international has been a long-term target for the Blues and they came close to landing him before he moved to the Spanish capital a year ago.

Despite being only 17, he is already a star performer in the club's Castilla side and had been earmarked for a future role in the first team.

A return to Portugal was on the cards for the ex-Rio Ave forward to ease Di Maria's £22 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti will now reportedly attempt to derail this move with a bid of his own.

Tottenham And Chelsea Battle For Barcelona Dealmaker Begiristain

According to Spanish daily 'Sport', Chelsea and Tottenham are the leading candidates to secure the services of Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.

The 45-year-old is a former Barcelona player and Spanish international. He was brought into the Nou Camp as technical secretary in 2003 in order to end a barren four seasons without a trophy and has since helped bring incredible success for the Catalans. Begiristain has overseen the transfers of influential stars such as Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o during his time at the Nou Camp.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta's reign will end at the end of the month and it is thought that his close ally Begiristain will also use the opportunity to move on. 'Sport' suggests that Tottenham, Chelsea and Rangers are all interested in securing his services, but that Begiristain is most interested in a move to England.

Chelsea would clearly offer Begiristain the greatest financial incentive and could provide him with the largest budget to work with. Although Begiristain has previously been linked with Tottenham, it remains to be seen whether Harry Redknapp would be willing to share responsibility on matters such as player recruitment.

John Terry's A Top Block, Says Joe Cole

Joe Cole has hailed John Terry as the best defender in the world and described him as the “heartbeat” of the England team.

Terry landed himself in hot water with manager Fabio Capello for calling on the players to challenge him on issues such as bringing Cole into the team. Cole was finally used as a late substitute in the victory over Slovenia, in which Terry bounced back from his problems with a superb performance.

“You can’t knock JT,” said Cole. “He is the best centre-half in the world and some of the blocks and the tackles against Slovenia were brilliant. He is the heartbeat of the side and an exceptional player. We’ve got so many good leaders in the team and it was a great performance from him.”

And despite being limited to a bit-part role so far, Cole has vowed to give everything to England’s cause, whether he is playing 90 minutes or nine. “The main thing is the squad game,” said Cole. “If I get one minute, I’ll fight for that one minute.”

Ballack Returns To Leverkusen On Two-year Deal

Michael Ballack has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year contract. The 33-year-old, who is missing the World Cup through an injury picked up in the FA Cup final victory, was released by Chelsea at the end of last season.

The midfielder is returning to the Bundesliga and his old side, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2002

"With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete. I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back on a lot," Ballack told the club's website.

"That was a factor in my decision." Ballack added: "But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive.

"I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer."

Ballack, who spent three years with Bayer before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2002 and then moving on to Chelsea in 2006, will reportedly earn around €12 million over a two-year stay at Bayer.

Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg were also believed to have been interested in him, but Ballack has opted for a return to his old club.

Bayer sporting director is delighted to have signed a player of Ballack's experience, and believes he will help the development of the club's crop of young players.

"With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality," he said. "Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience.

"We did everything to convince Michael. That his preference was for Bayer despite our limited financial possibilities in comparison to the competition shows his emotional attachment to the club."

Salomon Kalou Admits Disappointment At Ivory Coast's Performances

Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou has admitted pressure at World Cup 2010 has been to blame for Ivory Coast's poor tournament.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side look set to crash out of Group G unless they can turn around a nine-goal disadvantage to Portugal in Friday’s fixtures.

The Elephants were hotly-tipped before the tournament, but a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brazil has condemned them to an early flight home and they will need a miracle against North Korea.

Speaking to reporters, Kalou blamed high expectations as the cause for the squad's flop.

"Expectations were huge and we owed it to ourselves to perform well. But the pressure has caused us more stress than anything and even inhibited our talents," Kalou said.

"All of us have put lots of pressure on ourselves because this World Cup is being played on our continent.

"There have been a few players who haven't been up to the standard required. Their abilities have been crushed by the pressure they've put on their own shoulders."

My Favourite Games: Scott Sinclair

He may have spent the season away from Stamford Bridge but that did not stop Scott Sinclair sharing his memories of his two favourite matches, one in which he played, and the other which he watched.

Favourite game played:

This may seem an unlikely choice for many but add to the fixture the fact it's your Premier League debut for Chelsea and all will make sense.

Sinclair's favourite game to ever play in was exactly that, when he first donned the senior team's shirt in the Barclays Premier League against Arsenal in May 2007, when a draw saw the Blues relinquish the title to Manchester United.

It was a depleted Chelsea side that travelled to north London as Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Andrey Shevchenko and Arjen Robben all missed the fixture through injury.

Add to it that Khalid Boulahrouz was shown red during the first half; a dwindling Chelsea side were soon down to 10.

Gilberto Silva scored first, netting for the home side two minutes before the break, before Michael Essien evened the scores with a phenomenal strike in the 70th. It was 10 minutes after that Sinclair's debut would arrive.

Swapping for Shaun Wright-Phillips on the wing, under the watchful gaze of Jose Mourinho, Sinclair did well to set up Frank Lampard in the final minute, only for our number eight to narrowly miss the target.

'My favourite game was making my League debut for Chelsea,' says Sinclair, 'it was such a big thing for me. That will always stay in my mind.'

Favourite game watched:

It is proving to be popular. You have to go back five years for Scott's favourite game he's seen, to when he was a 16-year-old watching Liverpool take on Milan in the Final of the Champions League.

Liverpool had sealed their place in the final thanks to a phantom goal against Chelsea in the semis, and went on to produce a pretty dismal display during the first-half against Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan.

They were playing in Istanbul and conceded the first goal with only 50 seconds of football played, when Paulo Maldini struck.

Then, for Milan's second, Andrey Schevchenko crossed for Herman Crespo to tap in at the near post before the Argentine made it three in the 42nd minute.

No one would have blamed you for thinking the game was beyond reach for Liverpool as they returned to the pitch for the second half, but it wasn't.

Instead Steven Gerrard rallied his side for one of the most incredible comebacks in football's recent history.

Heading home a John Arne Riise cross, the Liverpool captain brought belief back to the ranks only nine minutes after the restart.

A further goal then arrived from Vladimir Smicer before Xabi Alonso was given the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. He missed the initial shot but followed up on the rebound as Dida failed to hold on. It was 3-3 with 30 minutes left.

There would be no more goals in normal or extra-time and Liverpool eventually went on to win the game 3-2 on penalties, as Serginho, Andrea Pirlo and, surprisingly, Shevchenko all missed from the spot.

'How they came back from the 3-0 is amazing,' says Sinclair, 'and in the Champions League Final as well.

'At 3-0 you think the game is done but Gerrard was the difference in that one.'

Chelsea Could Pip Man City To David Silva

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ballack Ready To Make His Mind Up

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Terry Throws Himself Back Into England Favour

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

England Substitute Joe Cole Admits Relief At Slovenia Win

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ivanovic Eliminated

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Favourite Games: Juliano Belletti

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

Favourite game played:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite game watched:

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

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

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

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

Ancelotti Plans For The Future With Ozil And Muller Bids

Chelsea are rumoured to be monitoring German international pair Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller as Carlo Ancelotti looks to bring youth to his ageing Stamford Bridge side. The Italian is a big fan of both Bundesliga stars and is hoping to plan for the future as he sees the backbone of his Premier League winning side reach the autumn of their careers.

Having already released Michael Ballack and Joe Cole the Blues are keen to bring in midfield additions but are only interested in those of tender years and they have already been heavily linked with a move for Werder Bremen talent Mesut Ozil but are now also said to be interested in Bayern Munich youngster Thomas Muller.

Roman Abramovich is said to be ready to make a massive cash injection in order to freshen things up at the club and a move for the pair would set the west London club back around £45m but its a price the Russian is willing to pay in order to keep his side challenging on all fronts even after the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole hang up their boots.

Ozil, 21, and Muller, 20 may well be tempted by huge salary increases that would come with a move to the club and they may well feel that a move to the club could best help their dreams of significant continental silverware.

England Boss Capello Backs John Terry Despite Criticism

England boss Fabio Capello says he never contemplated dropping John Terry following the defender's public criticism of the World Cup campaign.

Capello stated on Monday that Terry made a "big mistake" in questioning his training methods and tactics.

But the Italian said on Tuesday: "John Terry is one of the most important players [for England]."

England must beat Slovenia in their final group match on Wednesday to reach the knockout stage of the tournament.

Capello admitted it was "possible that I made some mistakes" in England's first two matches of the tournament - disappointing draws against the United States and Algeria.

However, the 64-year-old insisted he had a good relationship with the squad - including Terry, whom he stripped of the England captaincy in February after allegations the Chelsea defender had an affair with an England team-mate's ex-girlfriend.

"Every time when I speak with the players they follow me," said Capello.

"The players are happy. They trained very well. I think it's normal to have pressure at the moment. We have a play-off to be in or out. We have to win."

Blues Linked With Move for Benfica Centre Back Luiz

Benfica centre back David Luiz is the man Carlo Ancelotti wants to rejuvenate his ageing central defence.

The Blues are said to have bid £10m for the 23-year-old Portuguese, although his club say he will not go for less than the £40m release clause in his contract.

Ancelotti is concerned that Chelsea are creaking at the back, with Ricardo Carvalho slowing at 32, John Terry now 29 and Alex just a year younger.

Clearly Portuguese side Benfica are having a laugh if they think they will get £40m for the decent, but not spectacular, defender David Luiz. We are after all talking about a Brazilian who is yet to be called up to the full international set up and therefore probably more fairly priced at the amount Carlo Ancelotti is willing to offer.

Chelsea do have a very real problem to counter and that is the oft discussed issue of their ageing first team squad. Its perhaps the defence that shows most strain in this regard and a new younger option to turn to when the likes of Terry and Carvalho hang up their boots is needed.

I believe that the Stamford Bridge boss is more likely to look for homegrown replacements and not just because of the new Premier League regulations but also because he realizes how key the English backbone has been to the club over recent years and is clearly hoping to replicate this in the future.

The club has already brought in the likes of Ross Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge in the past year so perhaps he may indeed opt for trying hard to integrate the likes of Chelsea youngsters Ryan Bertand and Sam Hutchinson over the course of the coming season?

Sevilla Join Race For Free Agent Michael Ballack

According to a report in El Correo, Primera Division outfit Sevilla are considering making a move for German international Michael Ballack in the summer transfer window. The experienced midfielder is a free agent after being released by Chelsea.

The Blues' decision to let go of Ballack has alerted several big clubs, as Manchester United, Inter, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburger SV are all believed to be keen to sign the influential midfielder. However, Sevilla have now joined the race for Ballack's signature.

The Nervionenses have been in the market for a new midfielder for a while now and have also secured the services of Tiberio Guarente. However, head coach Antonio Alvarez isn't done on the transfer market just yet and has now set his sights on Ballack.

The 33-year-old Ballack initially appeared to be on his way back to Germany, but the former Bayern Munich star could be tempted to move to Spain in order to play Champions League football with Sevilla.

Arsenal & Tottenham On Notice As Manchester United Deny Interest In Chelsea Midfielder Joe Cole

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are now the favourites to sign Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole after Manchester United denied interest in the England international.

Cole is a free agent after negotiations with the defending Premier League champions stalled, and the 28-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

However, United sources report that United are not interested in signing Cole this summer, according to The Guardian.

Sir Alex Ferguson has mentioned his appreciation of Cole but with the Chelsea midfielder struggling through an injury plagued season and demanding a high salary, United are not looking to sign the Englishman.

It now appears that Arsenal and Spurs will be the most likely candidates to sign Cole as both north London clubs have had talks with his representatives.

Deco Doubtful For Portugal's Clash With Brazil

Portugal midfielder Deco faces a battle to be fit in time for his side's final Group G match with Brazil in Durban.

Deco missed the 7-0 win over North Korea on Monday with a hip problem but he has not given up hope of being ready to take on Brazil in their final Group G match on Friday, but remains non-committal about his fitness.

Deco said: ''It's so-so. I'll try to be better for the game but we'll see. ''I'm still having treatment and I hope to be available.

''I have nothing to prove against Brazil, I just want to play and help my team. What is important now is qualifying for the next phase.

''We want to play well against them, we had a good game against North Korea, controlled and game and scored seven goals. We're enjoying it now, the win was important.''

Deco's chances of playing Brazil seem slim regardless of his injury, with replacement Tiago stepping in and performing superbly in an excellent team performance.

Whether or not he plays, Deco acknowledges Portugal will need to be at the top of their game to stand a chance against the five-time World Cup winners.

''Brazil is a different game, we know they are one of the favourites to win the World Cup and we'll try to do our best in the game,'' he said.

Tiago admits a 6-2 friendly defeat by Brazil in 2008 will be on their minds when the sides meet again.

''In the last game we lost to them in a big defeat and now we have chance to beat them,'' Tiago said.

''It's not revenge; we are two great teams in the World Cup. Both teams want to go through and want to win the game, so it is not revenge, it is just a game.''

Chelsea Star John Terry Apologises To England Boss Fabio Capello For Public Outburst

John Terry has issued an apology to England manager Fabio Capello, following the Chelsea defender's call for a frank exchange of views following the Three Lions' draw with Algeria last week.

Terry had implied to reporters that some unpleasant things were likely to be said by players to the manager at a team meeting on Sunday evening.

He also named Joe Cole as a player who should come into the team to improve the attacking options.

As it turned out, the team meeting is believed to have run along conventional lines, with Capello speaking and the players listening.

Capello also branded Terry's outburst "a big mistake" in a television interview on Monday, and now Terry has apologized and given his manager his full backing.

It also appears that the backing Terry expected from certain of his team-mates did not materialize.

"I went into yesterday's press conference with the intention of being honest," Terry said, according to The Daily Mail.

"I was asked a question about Joe Cole and maybe I went too far. But it was never my intention to upset the manager or the players and if I did upset anyone, I apologise.

"I have told the manager he has my total support and I would like to stress that I don't believe I have been a disruptive influence in the camp.

"I would now like to put this episode behind me and concentrate on trying to win what is a massive game for England. All I was trying to do was to say how important it is to me to try to win the World Cup.

"I just hope people at least appreciate that I have taken the time to call you and have asked you to report what I have to say in response."

Chelsea Striker Nicolas Anelka Lands In London After France Ejection

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has landed in London from South Africa, according to L' Equipe.

The 31-year-old striker was kicked out of France's World Cup squad following a verbal attack on coach Raymond Domenech during half-time of the defeat by Mexico.

He left South Africa on Sunday evening, landing at London's Heathrow Airport early on Monday.

Anelka will now go on holiday before joining up with the rest of Chelsea's squad for their pre-season program.

France are on the verge of leaving the tournament at the group stages as they currently find themselves three points behind Uruguay and Mexico.

Recent reports suggest that Anelka is considering retiring from international football after being sent home, even though coach Domenech will be replaced by Laurent Blanc after the World Cup.

My Favourite Games: John Obi MIkel

Not a man renowned around the club for his nostalgia, John Mikel Obi selects two games from the past three months that stand out in his memory.

Favourite game played:

After already beating Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a John Terry header, the away game that followed was a slightly more productive affair as the Blues romped home to a 2-1 victory.

A cleverly taken opener from Joe Cole, as he back-heeled over the line, was added to by Didier Drogba's strike deep in the second half as we completed the season's six-point total over the Reds.

The reason Mikel depicts this game as his favourite played is all down to the African's ideals of, if you're going to do something, you should do it right.

When we travelled to Old Trafford, the side knew exactly what they needed to achieve and how to achieve it, as the Mikel explains.

'The favourite game I have played in was Manchester United away this season when we won because of the scenario,' he says.

'We knew what we had to do, our plan was to go there and win and when you have a goal, you want to do something and you do it, that's always amazing.

'We knew we had to go there and win and we went there and did it, at their home ground, which just makes it more special.'

Favourite game watched:

Mikel's favourite game watched came on the European stage this year, when a tough encounter between Arsenal and Barcelona pitted what some would argue as the two best football-playing sides in the world against one another.

That depiction of the two sides may hold true for the Catalan club, but most would assume a football-playing side would win trophies, unlike Arsenal in recent years, but regardless of individual opinions, this was always going to be a great tie.

The first leg took place at the Emirates, when the north London outfit was forced into a two-goal comeback following strikes in either half from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Theo Walcott pulled one back for the hosts before a Cesc Fabregas penalty evened the scores.

So Arsenal travelled to the Nou Camp, where a 4-1 thumping ensued as Lionel Messi proved his capabilities and forced Arsene Wenger into hailing him as the world's best player.

Arsenal may have taken the lead through Nicolas Bendtner in the 18th minute, but Barcelona, and more to the point Messi, were too much for the travelling side to handle.

The 22-year-old Argentine levelled the scores after 21 minutes, before helping his side take the lead in the 37th. He would also add one more before half-time arrived.

Spent and without their influential captain Fabregas, Arsenal would concede one more three minutes from time. It was the final nail in the coffin as Messi single-handedly annihilated the opposition.

'The goals in that game were phenomenal,' says Mikel. 'Messi showed just how outstanding he is. It was a brilliant game for him.'

Lampard Backs Passionate Terry

Midfielder Frank Lampard insists England and Chelsea team-mate John Terry spoke out because he wants to “hit things head-on”.

Yesterday, former captain John Terry laid bare a series of grievances and personnel issues which he vowed to raise at a pre-planned team meeting with manager Fabio Capello last night.

Opinion has been mixed about Terry’s motives for speaking out, but Lampard said today: “I don’t think anyone wants to give too much away about what was said.

“I think it’s been particularly overdone in terms of a ’crisis meeting’...but I understand what John Terry was saying because he’s passionate like that, as a player as a person.

“Every person deals with things differently. Some won’t say much and others want to hit things head-on.

“But people want to see a reaction and people have said he (Terry) has said some positive things.

“We’ll try to hit things head-on on the training ground.”

Lampard added at the press conference at England’s World Cup training camp in Rustenburg: “It seems to me the manager and (number two) Franco Baldini have always been very approachable.”

Chelsea Try To Tempt £18m AC Milan Striker To Make Stamford Bridge Move

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen on landing AC Milan striker Marco Borriello and hopes that the still vacant managerial position at the San Siro has created enough uncertainty to give the west London club a chance of picking up the Italian international.

The 28 year old Naples born forward took seven years to finally prove to the Rossoneri club that he was up for the task of a first team spot, during which time he spent loan periods at five different clubs, finally getting into gear during a successful stint at Genoa.

Last term Borriello managed 14 goals from 29 starts and is a player that Ancelotti is known to admire, he was indeed the man who brought the former Treviso man to the San Siro, and is hoping to sign him in order to expand his attacking options.

The Premier League champions know that Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are not getting any younger and the £18m rated striker may well be tempted by the idea of a return to working under his former boss and the financially stricken Serie A club may feel that they can afford to sell Borriello over the likes of Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo.

Anelka Given Drogba Support

Didier Drogba has backed Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka after he was kicked out of France's World Cup squad.

Anelka was sent home from South Africa after a dressing-room bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech at half-time in Thursday's Group A game against Mexico.

Les Bleus went on to lose 2-0 and have only a slim chance of reaching the second round having drawn 0-0 with Uruguay in their group opener.

The French squad refused to train on Sunday because of Anelka's expulsion, putting their plans for Tuesday's crunch clash against South Africa in disarray.

But Ivory Coast star Drogba is right behind Anelka and is confident his Chelsea strike partner is strong enough to move on from the sorry episode.

"He has been a team-mate for two-and-a-half years, and yes, I support him," Drogba is quoted as saying on news24.com.

"I wish him good luck, it's a difficult time for him.

"He is very strong mentally, he's a competitor. I was surprised he was kicked out of the team."

Meanwhile, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has asked his sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, to meet with the key figures in the national team row.

"We are taking note of the indignation of the French people and calling for dignity and responsibility," she told TFI television.

"It's not yet the right time to take disciplinary action but that time will come very soon."

Economy minister Christine Lagarde, who represented her country as a synchronised swimmer, told LCI television: "I am appalled because I have worn the French national colours, as you know, and when you wear the French national colours you have added responsibilities.

"The first is to be the best possible in sport, but also to be exemplary because you are watched.

"There are young children, young adolescents who practise the sport and look to you as an example."

Even if France beat the hosts in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, a draw between Mexico and Uruguay would see both nations progress to the last 16 and knock out the 2006 runners-up.

French Team Back Nicolas Anelka By Refusing To Train

The France players boycotted a training session yesterday in support of Nicolas Anelka, a day after he was kicked out of the World Cup for insulting manager Raymond Domenech.

The France coach read out a statement by the players in which they explained they had decided not to train to protest against the decision to send the striker home.

Anelka was removed after insulting Domenech at half-time of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico on Thursday in Polokwane.

"The players are unanimously against the French Football Federation's decision to expel Nicolas Anelka," said the statement.

Yesterday's public session had already been halted after a row between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne, leading to the immediate resignation of the team director.

France, facing an early exit, still plan to play their final Group A game against South Africa tomorrow in Bloemfontein. "They will do everything individually and in a collective spirit" on the pitch on Tuesday, the statement read.

The session at France's base in Knysna, Western Cape, was about to begin when a heated dispute started at the centre of the pitch between Evra and Duverne. Domenech had to move in to separate them. Duverne angrily threw his stopwatch on to the pitch and left. The players then walked towards their bus following the incident.

"They don't want to train, it's a scandal," France team director and FFF managing director Jean-Louis Valentin said as he also left the pitch. "It's a scandal for French people, for the youngsters who came here to watch them train. I'm resigning, I'm leaving the Federation. I have nothing more to do here. I'm going back to Paris."

The new scandal came a day after Evra claimed a "traitor" within the team had leaked Anelka's insults to the press.

Terry Stunned By Cole Decision

John Terry says he is "amazed" Chelsea have decided not to renew Joe Cole's contract.

Chelsea confirmed earlier this summer that Cole's deal would not be renewed and speculation has suggested he may be set to sign for Arsenal on a free transfer, and Blues captain Terry feels they have made the wrong decision.

"It still amazes me how the club has come to the conclusion of letting Joe go," he said. "We are disappointed with him going.

"He was a great boost for us, coming back from his injury, and it was the right for Chelsea for him to come back into the side. He got a great goal away from home at Manchester United, which proved to be vital [in winning the title].

"Listen, Joe is one of the best players in our country. He has come back from an injury and showed great form for Chelsea."

Fabio Capello Crushes John Terry's England Revolt

Fabio Capello moved to reassert complete control over the England set-up last night after successfully deflecting a proposed challenge to his authority by disgruntled players at a scheduled team meeting.

The former captain John Terry suggested the time had come for the players to speak their mind after a stuttering start to the side's World Cup campaign but ended up in danger of being left isolated within the England camp after senior team-mates reacted with dismay to him going public with their desire for a clear-the-air meeting with the manager.

Terry was eventually persuaded against speaking at the meeting by a member of Capello's coaching staff and with no guarantee that other players would fall in line behind him, even though they had agreed in principle with the need to air their opinions. The manager nevertheless made some nominal concessions to appease his squad. There were suggestions last night those could include abandoning his controversial policy of informing the players of his line-up only two hours before kick-off, though that would represent a radical change of policy.

Capello also expressed a willingness to enter into more dialogue with his squad but, while player power appears to have been largely nullified, Terry's earlier comments had served to expose the tension within the England set-up. Frustration has mounted after successive draws left them needing to beat Slovenia on Wednesday to avoid elimination at the group stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

The 29-year-old had faced the media yesterday "on behalf of the team" and suggested he would head a group of players in expressing their concerns to the manager in the evening's get-together at the side's hotel at Royal Bafokeng. "The players can say how they feel and, if it upsets him, then I'm on the verge of just saying: 'You know what? So what?'" said Terry. "If we can't be honest with each other, then there's no point us being here."

The centre-half made no mention of David Beckham, whose role at present is that of a liaison between players and management, but had named a group that included the current captain, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, who had all stayed up in the wake of Friday's dismal draw with Algeria to discuss the team's shortcomings and their frustrations with the World Cup campaign to date. The players had been keen to let Capello know their grievances but an uneasiness surfaced within the squad that Terry's outburst had gone too far.

The defender had clearly felt he had a mandate to speak for the squad at the time. There had been murmurings of discontent from some within the set-up at a perceived lack of preparatory work – most notably a lack of planning on how to break down Algeria's three-man defence – and a desire to switch to a 4-5-1 formation that would include the as yet unused substitute, Joe Cole.

There was dissatisfaction, too, in the manner in which the staff dealt with the goalkeeping situation after Rob Green's error against the USA, with matters not helped by the team being closeted away in their training camp for long periods.The build-up of tension appeared to be showing on the pitch, with Rooney reacting furiously to the chorus of boos that greeted the goalless stalemate at Green Point stadium on Friday.

Terry had hoped a meeting would have a similar effect to that in 1990 when a delegation of senior players including Bryan Robson, Gary Lineker and Peter Shilton had urged Bobby Robson to switch from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 after the opening draw against the Republic of Ireland. "We owe it to ourselves and to everyone in the country that, if we feel there's a problem, there's no point in keeping it in," Terry had said. "If I say something tonight, and I probably will and a few others will, then I'm doing the best for England.

"With previous managers, I've stood up and others have done the same. It's not one of those things where the manager calls the shots and that's it. People have got this picture of him where you can't say stuff in meetings. We have a responsibility to ourselves, to the manager and everyone else to voice an opinion and hope he takes it on board."

Capello himself has appeared at a loss as to why a team that breezed impressively through qualification are now struggling to impose their quality at the finals proper. The England manager has already had to field questions over his future should the team fail to progress out of the group, with the Football Association moving to reaffirm its support last night in the wake of suggestions that the manager may consider resigning should Slovenia not be beaten on Wednesday.

Asked whether he felt the side's current travails made the last two years of hard work count for nothing, the Italian replied: "Yes, it does. I don't know why or how the players have arrived at this point. The training is good, so I can't understand why they don't transfer that form on to the pitch. It is simply the fear that stops the legs, that stops the mind, which stops everything. I'm not criticising them for that. I know the problem, it happens sometimes in important matches, this pressure. This is a big challenge and a big pressure for me and the team."

Terry had rejected Capello's notion that the side was gripped by anxiety. "That's a little bit insulting, because we are not," he said. Yet he admitted they had needed to relax in the wake of Friday's draw. "I don't want to say it was me but I went to see [the general manager] Franco Baldini after the game and said: 'Look, let everyone have a beer and speak to the manager. Flippin' hell, let's just switch off.'

"We did. The manager was sitting there with a bottle of red wine and his staff. It was more relaxed from him and us. For the first time since the manager has taken over we sat there and he let us have a beer. Seven or eight players sat there talking about the game. It was good to get things off our chest and express how we felt. The discussions between the players will stay private, but it was really nice to unwind. That togetherness has been missing maybe at times.."

The suggestion of a weight of support behind Cole within the squad was fuelled by Terry's assertion that "only he and Wayne can open up defences" in the current set-up, though Capello has made it clear he will not concede ground to player power.

"It's the manager's decision," added Terry. "Listen, Joe is one of the best players in our country. He has come back from an injury and showed great form for Chelsea. It still amazes me how the club have come to the conclusion of letting Joe go. That is another story but he can surely do things whether he starts or comes on for England."