England rescue Czech draw
Seemingly oblivious to the rare national outbreak of pride occasioned by the Olympics, the England national side flattered to deceive to rescue a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic with a stoppage-time equaliser from Joe Cole. "The single achievement for England last night was the eradication of any complacency about the campaign ahead. Cole's equaliser from the muddle ensuing at a corner kick, was little comfort. Indeed, it emphasised a dependence on set-pieces as the first equaliser had come from the same source. The side never flowed," writes Kevin McCarra in the Guardian. (Guardian)
"I'm happy for the draw because the reaction to the team to the last minute was good, was important. And I think, also, that the first half we played with good football, good style and created a lot of chances to score goals" Fabio Capello defends England's substandard performance
Barwick loses FA power struggle
While the English team struggled on the pitch last night, in the boardroom of the national team the knives came out for Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, who was "dramatically unseated " from his £450,000 a year post. "Barwick’s position has been under threat since Lord Triesman began work as the governing body's first independent chairman amid much fanfare in January, but the suddenness of his departure is a shock," writes Matt Hughes in the Times. "With Great Britain enjoying a gold rush at the Olympic Games in Beijing, this was not an evening that showed the national game in the best light. The FA had been planning to announce Barwick's departure this morning, but news leaked out shortly before kick-off on a night when England were booed off by a large section of the Wembley crowd." (Times)
Scotland save face at Hampden
Scotland and Northern Ireland reenacted their own mini Home International tournament at Hampden Park last night, and their grim 0-0 draw proved a poor advertisement for those wishing to bring back the annual competition. "George Burley endured his third successive game in charge of Scotland without a win in this Hampden Park friendly, a contest that lacked inspiration, if not incident," reports the Daily Telegraph. "In the closing stages he – like most inside the stadium – must have thought Scotland's moment had come when Barry Robson's corner kick was nodded on by Kenny Miller to James McFadden, lurking around the back post. McFadden delivered a fierce left-foot drive, only to see Maik Taylor's reflexive block turn the ball off the line." (Daily Telegraph)
Wales lose to resolute Georgians
For the Georgians, any reason to celebrate their national status is gratefully received at the moment, and Wales duly obliged by letting the Caucasus side scramble to victory 2-1 with two late second half goals to cancel Jason Koumas's 16th-minute opener. "John Toshack will not be overly concerned with the outcome, with the Wales manager making it clear beforehand that he saw the Under-21's meeting with Romania - a match that Brian Flynn's side lost 1-0 - as 'more important'," reports the Guardian. "Indeed there were some positives to glean from the first half here, not the least the performance of Paul Parry, whose willing running suggested that the Wales manager could have another attacking option when Azerbaijan visit Cardiff next month. Otherwise, there were few crumbs of comfort." (Guardian)
Prior returns to England set-up
Matthew Prior will return to the England set-up for the one-day series beginning this week against South Africa, and the Sussex glovesman is keen to show off his new-found maturity. While Prior has been away, Tim Ambrose and Phil Mustard have tried and failed to hang on to his place in the England one-day team. In the meantime, Prior has steadily rebuilt his reputation at Sussex with bat and gloves," reports the Daily Telegraph. "A championship average of 56 and the calming words of his mentor, Alec Stewart, have prepared him for a return to the international circuit." (Daily Telegraph)
Chelsea ‘seal’ £25m Robinho deal
Chelsea are believed to have completed the signing of Real Madrid playmaker Robinho for £25m after their chief executive Peter Kenyon was seen arriving in the Spanish capital to reportedly seal the deal... Mikael Silvestre became the first Manchester United in more than 30 years to swap Old Trafford for Arsenal when he completed his move to the north Londoners yesterday for a fee of £750,000... Liverpool's unsettled Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso could be on his way to the Emirates as he continues to interest Arsene Wenger. The Anfield club will have to settle for less than the £16m valuation they slapped on the Euro 2008 winner... Sunderland boss Roy Keane has pulled off another coup, perusading Djibril Cisse to swap the warm-weather attractions of Marseille for the Wearside. The former Liverpool striker is set to move for an undisclosed fee...
Transfer Talk: all the comings and goings of the transfer window 
Transfer talk: The latest football transfer news and transfer rumours 
