Ferdinand expects to feature for England Rio Ferdinand claims Roy Hodgson will still consider him for selection despite withdrawing from the England squad on Monday.
Ferdinand, 34, looked set to end a two-year wait for international football when he was called up by Hodgson for England's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.
The Manchester United veteran then withdrew from the squad, citing a need to follow a detailed pre-planned training programme to maintain his fragile fitness.
Ferdinand's decision provoked criticism from many observers, particularly when it was revealed he would be travelling to Qatar during the
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Category: News Views: 783 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 12:58
UAE, Malaysia rally The United Arab Emirates arrested a deficit to beat Uzbekistan to make it six points from two Asian Cup qualifying matches.
UAE top Group E after cancelling out Shohruh Gadoev's 16th-minute opener for the Uzbeks in Abu Dhabi with two goals three minutes apart.
Ahmed Khalil hit a well-taken volley into the Uzbekistan net on 58 minutes, before Ali Mabkhout scored the winner shortly after.
In other results on Friday, China beat Iraq 1-0 courtesy of a 90th-minute goal to Yu Dabao.
Hong Kong also produced a late show to deny Vietnam
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Category: News Views: 1040 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 12:56
Trapattoni proud of battling Ireland Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni feels his team fully deserved a point following their 0-0 draw away to Sweden on Friday.
Ireland needed a positive result in Stockholm to try and keep pace with second-placed Sweden and top side Germany in Group C of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Austria's 6-0 win over the Faroe Islands saw Ireland slip to fourth in the group, and they remain hard-pressed to book a spot at the tournament in Brazil next year.
Nevertheless, veteran Italian coach Trapattoni was proud of his players' performance against their more-fancied opponents. <
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Category: News Views: 818 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 12:54
World Cup: France 3:1 Georgia France comfortably saw off the threat of Georgia in their World Cup qualifier in Paris on Friday, securing a 3-1 victory.
Marseille star Mathieu Valbuena was to the fore of many of the hosts' best moves at the Stade de France, and it was his free-kick that produced the opening goal for Olivier Giroud in first-half stoppage-time.
Valbuena's delivery was met by a textbook header from the Arsenal forward that picked out the corner of the net.
It was only moments after the restart before the home side added to their tally. Giroud and Franck Ribery combined down the left to set up Valbu
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Category: News Views: 927 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 06:57
World Cup: San Marino 0:8 England England registered a routine 8-0 win away to San Marino in World Cup qualifying on Friday, to keep pace with Group H leaders Montenegro.
The visitors showed exactly why they are ranked 203 places above one of football's minnows in the FIFA rankings, enjoying complete domination over the home side and boosting their goal difference ahead of Tuesday's crucial clash with Montenegro.
England took an early lead through Alessandro Della Valle's own goal, who skewed Leighton Baines' cross into the far corner of the net, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled the Three Lions' advantage.
Category: News Views: 758 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 06:55
World Cup : Spain 1:1 Finland Finland have sensationally denied world champions Spain in Gijon, with the unfancied visitors earning a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw.
Following the script, Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos scored in his 100th international appearance on 49 minutes, heading home from a David Silva corner.
But the Finns made Spain pay on the counter with little over 10 minutes remaining, as a low left-footed cross from Alexander Ring found Teemu Pukki in front of goal, and the Schalke man poked home past Victor Valdes to send the away bench into raptures.
Finland held out in the face of some late Spai
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Category: News Views: 758 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 06:51
World Cup: Sweden 0:0 Ireland Sweden were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to the Republic of Ireland in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Stockholm on Friday.
It was a result which the Irish would have taken before kick off but there was a feeling that Giovanni Trapattoni's men could have come away from this Group C qualifier with more than a point.
However, the hard-fought goalless draw means Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 tournament in Brazil are still alive ahead of Tuesday's home clash with Austria.
Much of the talk ahead of the game was about the attacking threat which Sweden posses
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Category: News Views: 783 Added: SkyDate: 23.03.2013 - 06:48
