Former World Cup winner Carlos Alberto Parreira has been appointed national team coach for the host nation South Africa – as he bid to participate in a record six World Cup finals. Parreira won the tournament in 1994 with his home country Brazil. Parreira returns to a job that he left 18 months ago after being named coach to succeed compatriot Joel Santana.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez saw his side lose a second consecutive Premier League game – following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Steve Bruce’s Sunderland – and a little help from a beach ball. A Liverpool fan through a beach ball on the pitch – which played an enormous part in Darren Bent’s winner early in the first half.
France booked their place in next month’s playoffs with a 3-1 victory over Austria. The 1998 World Cup winners boasted a strike force mixed of the two Spanish giants – Real Madrid (Benzema) and Barcelona (Henry) – who both scored against the Austrians. France struggled in the World Cup 2006 qualifying rounds – until the old guard of Claude Makelele, Lillian Thuram and Zinedine Zidane helped push Les Blues to the final in Berlin.
Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal slaughtered Malta 4-0 to reach the playoffs of the World Cup qualifying stage. Sweden and Portugal went into the final game with a chance of reaching the playoff stage – with Denmark qualifying on Saturday having beaten their Scandinavian rivals 1-0. Sweden last failed to qualify for the finals in 1998.
Chelsea have beaten title rivals Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge after goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda to go top of the Premier League following Champions Manchester United’s draw with Sunderland yesterday. Didier Drogba played a part in both goals as Liverpool struggled to cope with the Ivorian striker. It is a far cry from the 1-0 victory by Liverpool last season over the South Londoners – with Xabi Alonso a noticeable absentee.
Brazilian forward Ronaldinho saved AC Milan from another defeat and even more questions being thrown at under pressure manager Leonardo – who has had a torrid start to his managerial decision. The Brazilian came off the bench to strike six minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw at 10 man Atalanta.
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