Early Doors (UK)

Sympathy the Keano way

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:19 -0800

When news broke that a huge match-fixing ring had tried to influence 200 matches around Europe - including three Champions League games - it was clear what everyone would be talking about this afternoon.

Thierry Henry, obviously.

After a solid two-day diet of moralistic platitudes, Early Doors needed a good blast of Roy Keane shake it out of its guff-induced coma. ...

Were Ireland in on the plot?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:07:17 -0800

Cheatgate, day two, and the sheer scale of the plot to deny Ireland a place at the World Cup becomes ever more apparent.

There are so many guilty parties, a millipede would struggle to point the finger at all of them.

Blame Thierry Henry for handling the ball then refusing to fess up (but didn't he show lovely technique to kill the ball dead with his first touch, then caress it onto his right foot with his second?). ...

Your view on Henry

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:46:57 -0800

A day on from Ireland's shocking World Cup play-off elimination in Paris, and the after-shocks are still being felt.

People as diverse as the Irish justice minister, France win their play-off against Ireland and reach next year's World Cup finals. ...

Family fortunes

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:51:35 -0800

Just a (very) quick post this afternoon - after all, there's football to watch or follow in live text form.

- - -

Craig Burley has stuck up for his dad George who was sacked by Scotland:

"I'm not shocked at all. Wales was a disastrous result. ...

Egypt-Algeria: A proper rivalry

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:49:49 -0800

It you are one of those insular types who thinks that Blackburn v Burnley is the biggest rivalry in world football, or who excitedly predicts 'it's all going to go off' whenever one of 3,718 annual London derbies takes place, Early Doors advises you to watch today's World Cup play-off between Egypt and Algeria.

The two teams have hated each other for a while - at least since 1989 when Egypt's doctor lost an eye after getting glassed in the face by an Algerian player. ...

Kalou not so Meite

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:27:56 -0800

Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou and West Brom defender Abdoulaye Meite were left out of Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifier against Guinea at the weekend after a training ground bust-up.

Kalou kicked out at Meite during a scuffle, and the pair could be omitted from Wednesday's friendly against Germany in Gelsenkirchen.

Kalou said: "Meite is a big brother, I have apologised and he has accepted it. ...

Placenta-forward

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:53:42 -0800

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie's trip to the Balkans for placenta therapy on his ankle injury has caused predictable consternation.

The Dutchman has taken drastic action after suffering ankle ligament damage playing for Netherlands against Italy on Saturday.

Van Persie said of the doctor: "She is vague about her methods but I know she massages you using fluid from a placenta. ...

Eurosport-Yahoo! football podcast

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:50 -0800

The Eurosport-Yahoo! Football podcast is online now.

Alex Chick, Reda Maher and Mike Hytner discuss the weekend's international action, including England's defeat to Brazil in Qatar, Irish disappointment against France, mayhem in Africa and the imminent sacking of George Burley.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.

Capello learns who not to pick

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:48:31 -0800

Fabio Capello claimed he learned valuable lessons from England's shambolic display against Brazil in Doha - presumably that a one-legged Gary Neville would be a better option for South Africa than Wes Brown.

Despite the dreadful performance, Capello is probably right. It would have been nice for England to play well, but at this stage it is just as important to find out who is rubbish as who is good. ...