Soccer Update (March Part 2)

Keegan Makes His Mark With England (March 28)

LONDON -- It took just one match under Kevin Keegan for the debate about the English national soccer team to switch from faith healers to miracle workers. Caretaker coach Keegan, his options restricted by a crippling injury list, stuck to his natural instincts and chose an attacking team. That team duly went out and beat Euro 2000 Group Five leaders Poland 3-1 at Wembley on Saturday — winning in style.
The nation, dejected by the dull and dismal performances under faith-healing fan Glenn Hoddle since the World Cup finals, rejoiced again and the call went up for Keegan to stay after his temporary contract runs out at the end of this season. Keegan was insisting he would stick to his decision to return full-time next season to his job as chief operating officer of Fulham, the London club he aims to take from the second division to the premier league. "I've got four games and that's the deal," he said. "I'm going to do the four games, then I hope I'm going to leave the new manager in a position I would like to be left for me. Then I'm going back to Fulham."
Keegan's stance was, however, undermined by Egyptian millionaire owner of Fulham, Mohamed Al Fayed, who said the former Liverpool and Hamburg player could stay with England if he wished. "If the nation wants Kevin...then I will give him to England, no problem," he was quoted as saying. "The nation comes first, the glory of the country and that's the sacrifice we will make at Fulham. I will leave it with Kevin." Fayed's gesture was widely interpreted as being not altogether altruistic. He has long been seeking the right to a British passport.
Keegan might well find the call of a grateful nation too hard to resist if England ends the season with a serious chance of qualifying for the Euro 2000 finals, though he faces potentially difficult games in June against Sweden and Bulgaria. The bubbly Keegan's first game in charge was certainly a breath of fresh air both on the pitch and off it after the dour, humorless and paranoid era of Hoddle. The charismatic Keegan has an infectiously enthusiastic air which rubs off on those around him. It showed at Wembley where the team, so apathetic in recent games, went out to enjoy themselves, playing with both style and commitment.
"It's a big thrill if you walk out at Wembley as a ball boy," he enthused. "When you're England manager, it's very, very special. It's a privilege few people get to enjoy." It may have been a great start for the new coach, but there are plenty of stumbling blocks ahead. Sweden and Poland are still better placed to qualify from Group Five and there are still some question marks about the overall quality of the England side. Polish trainer Janusz Wojcik, who claimed England's hat-trick hero Paul Scholes scored one goal with his hand, summed it up well. "I don't think England are a great team. They have a good attack and worked very hard -- and an excellent man in midfield scored two goals."

European Qualifying Roundup (March 27)

LONDON -- European soccer powers Germany, Italy and England scored important victories in their qualifying matches for next year's Euro 2000 finals, but world champions France were held to a goalless draw by Ukraine on Saturday. In Valencia, Raul Gonzalez scored four goals as Spain crushed Austria 9-0 to record the biggest win of the qualifying series to date. Reigning European champion Germany defeated Northern Ireland 3-0 in Belfast while Italy maintained its perfect Group One record with a 2-1 win over Denmark in Copenhagen. But France, without injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane, could not break down a determined Ukraine side in Paris and was lucky not to lose when usually lethally marksman Andriy Shevchenko fired straight at Fabien Barthez in the closing stages when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.
Spain, which crashed to a shock 3-2 defeat to Cyprus in its opening match, kickstarted its qualifying campaign in dramatic fashion by overwhelming hapless Austria. Real Madrid striker Raul put the home side 2-0 up inside 17 minutes before taking his goal tally to four with further strikes after 48 and 73 minutes. The other goals came from Ismael Urzaiz (two), Fran Gonzalez, a Fernando Hierro penalty and an own goal by Arnold Wetl. The victory lifts the Spanish to third in Group Six points, while the Austrians remain second on seven after having played one more game.
Elsewhere, the resurgent Czech Republic, which was beaten in the 1996 final but missed out on last year's World Cup finals, preserved its perfect start in Group Nine with its fourth successive victory, a 2-0 home win over Lithuania. There were no major upsets in any of the 15 matches played. Germany returned to form when it crushed Northern Ireland 3-0 in Belfast and moved back into contention for an automatic place in next year's finals, which are being staged jointly by the Netherlands and Belgium. Two goals from Marco Bode in the first half and an own goal by Steve Morrow, who got in the way of a free kick by Dieter Hamann after 62 minutes, gave the Germans a convincing victory and ended Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the finals. The win took the Germans up to second place in the table after Turkey's 2-0 win against a 10-man Moldova in Istanbul. Turkey leads the group with nine points from four matches, followed by Germany on six points from three and Finland, six from three. Finland, which started the day in first place, was not playing and slipped back to third. The Germans have a better goal difference than the Finns and will go top of the group if they beat Finland as expected in Nuremburg on Wednesday.
Italy took advantage of a first-minute mistake by debutant Jesper Groenkjaer to take control of its match against Denmark in Copenhagen. Juventus striker Filippo Inzaghi intercepted Groenkjaer's weak back-pass to Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schemeichel and rounded him to score — something he would love to do again next month when their clubs meet in the European Cup semifinal. Denmark came back strongly and scored a deserved equalizer through Ebbe Sand after 58 minutes, but Italy replied through substitite Antonio Conte (also of Juventus) to take all three points. He headed home bravely in a crowded penalty area with 21 minutes to go. Italy leads the group with nine points from three matches, ahead of Wales, which has six from three.
While Italy consolidated its position at the top of its group, there was a change at the top of Group Five with Sweden replacing Poland after beating Luxembourg 2-0 in Gothenburg. Both goals were scored by teammates at Celtic -- Johan Mjallby and Henrik Larsson. Poland, which started the day as the Group Five leader, slipped back to third after losing to England, whose goals all came from Manchester United's Paul Scholes. Scholes scored after 11, 23 and 71 minutes. Poland skipper Jerzy Brzeczek scored on a breakaway after 29 minutes, but England never looked like losing. Sweden, which plays at Poland on Wednesday, leads with nine points from three games, followed by England with seven from four and Poland six from three.
The Czech Republic maintained its perfect record in Group Nine with a 2-0 home win over Lithuania. The Czechs stayed on course for a place in Euro 2000 thanks to goals from Michael Hornak after 10 minutes and Patrik Berger from the penalty spot 16 minutes from time. With Scotland's match against Bosnia called off in the same section because of the Kosovo crisis, the Czechs go to Scotland on Wednesday five points clear at the top with 12 points from four matches.
Switzerland scored its first victory in Group One with a 1-0 victory in Belarus thanks to a 72nd-minute goal from Sebastien Fournier. And Russia also ended its streak of three straight defeats in Group Four with a 3-0 win over Armenia in Yerevan. Ukraine stayed two points clear of France at the top of the group with 10 points from four matches. France has eight points, the same as Iceland, which won 2-0 in Andorra.
While Manchester United's Scholes scored all of England's goals in London, his clubmate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer achieved a similar feat in Athens, scoring twice as Norway beat Greece 2-0.

Complete Euro Qualifier Schedule and Results

Keegan and England Help Euro 2000 Chances (March 27)

LONDON -- Paul Scholes grabbed a hat trick as England earned a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Poland in a Euro 2000 Group Five qualifier on Saturday, giving England's new caretaker coach Kevin Keegan a dream debut. Scholes got the Keegan era away to a sizzling start with goals in the 11th and 22nd minutes and though Polish captain Jerzy Brzeczek pulled one back on a breakaway in the 29th minute, an English victory never looked in doubt. Scholes completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute, the first scored by an England player since November 1993 when Ian Wright netted four against San Marino. It was a badly needed victory for England against Poland, who started the day top of group five after winning both their previous matches in the section without conceding a goal. Poland, unbeaten in almost a year with a run of eight wins and one draw in nine games, found Keegan's attack-minded team too strong for them in all departments of the game.

Chelsea Prolong Villa Slide With 3-0 Win (March 21)

Tore Andre Flo celebrates one of his 2 goals

Chelsea, who could be playing in the European Cup Winners' Cup final at Villa Park in May, impressively chalked up their fifth win in seven games on the Birmingham ground with two goals from Tore Andre Flo and one from Bjarne Goldbaek in the second half to take them into third spot in the Premiership. With the return of World Cup stars Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf, Chelsea dominated for long spells against a Villa side obviously still struggling unsuccessfully to battle their way out of a slump.
If the match proved anything it is that Villa desperately need to persuade goalkeeper Mark Bosnich to sign a new contract. Making his first home appearance since September 26, the Australian was in fine form, keeping out first-half efforts from Flo and Gianfranco Zola and also preventing Zola from scoring in the second half. The Blues, who sealed the points in the final five minutes, always had the edge but inconsistent refereeing often upset players on both sides. Chelsea had three booked in the first half with Dennis Wise picking up his latest yellow card for comments made to Villa trainer Jim Walker as he attended the injured Stan Collymore. Only some desperate play kept Villa in the game as the Blues were always the more composed and appeared to be playing well within themselves.
The vital breakthrough came in the 59th minute when a long ball from Albert Ferrer from inside his own half was collected by Flo, who turned inside Gareth Southgate before slotting a low angled left-footed shot past Bosnich. Although Villa strived for the eqialiser it was still Chelsea who were the more dangerous with the alert Bosnich keeping out efforts from Zola and Wise. Not even the double substitutuon of Paul Merson and Julian Joachim for Collymore and Dion Dublin could spark a Villa revival and they slipped even deeper into trouble as a result of a final two-goal salvo. Goldbaek grabbed the second goal in the 86th minute following a mistake by substitute Ian Taylor, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes. Flo completed the scoring when he collected a pass from Jody Morris to score with a left-footed shot just inside the near post.

Keegan Leaves Fulham For England (March 20)

From the genteel Cottage to the cauldron of Wembley. An improbable journey, but one Kevin Keegan has claimed he is equipped to make. On Saturday we shall see. Certainly no England manager in memory has begun his preparations for a critical international with a cruise by the river. Keegan, though, is not a conventional England coach. He is only moonlighting from his day job; the business of ensuring Fulham's irresistible march towards the First Division with 4-0 victory over Blackpool was of paramount importance yesterday. Now, bring on Poland.
Mostly, Keegan stood dispassionately on the touchline yesterday. Occasionally, he unfolded his arms to direct players, to demand a pattern from his team. He celebrated each goal from Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Steve Finnan and Kit Symons with a little jog along the touchline, hands aloft. These are balmy days at Craven Cottage. A man sitting near me suggested: 'It's 50 years since we won anything, so it's not asking too much to win some silverware twice this century. In fact, we're now so good we'll lend England our manager.'
Of course, Keegan will not expect quite such a relaxed afternoon when he sends England into battle against Poland. He may be only committed to coaching England for the next four games, three of them vital to England's quest to reach the finals of the European Championships next year. In the countdown to his appointment with Poland, Keegan can expect to find his selection and his philosophies under close examination. Yet, if the mood of the nation was to mirror the atmosphere by the end of the afternoon down by the River Thames yesterday, he can expect to find himself the most popular temp in the nation.
'Keegan, Keegan' they chanted and there were 12,869 souls in the old stadium untouched by time and waiting to celebrate promotion. He has become the embodiment of the ambition of Fulham under the patronage of Mohamed Al Fayed, who never misses the opportunity to make a grand entrance himself. He did not disappoint us yesterday, walking across the pitch with a club scarf big enough to double as a car rug. From tomorrow, Keegan will take charge of the creme de la creme of the English game; men like David Seaman, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, David Beckham, Michael Owen and Alan Shearer. He will invest with confidence returnees like Steve McManaman, Ray Parlour and Chris Sutton. But yesterday his concern was for the honest endeavour of men at the core of Fulham's revival, players with high mileage like Simon Morgan, Symons and Paul Trollope.
At his side on the touchline was Paul Bracewell, the injured player-coach whom he holds in such regard. When the final whistle went, when Fulham had won their 12th consecutive home match to equal a 40-year record, Keegan mingled with the Blackpool players and offered commiserations. The crowd chanted again 'Keegan, Keegan'. He could not have asked for a more rousing performance to send him from the serenity of the Cottage into the awaiting cauldron.

Fulham Win 4-0 in Keegan Send Off (March 20)

Geoff Horsfield celebrates his goal

Fulham went 15 points clear at the top of Nationwide Division Two after an emphatic 4-0 win over Blackpool at Craven Cottage, in front of their second highest league gate of the season. The crowd of 12,869 was boosted by the fact that this was only Fulham's second home game in their last seven outings, and also the last game before Kevin Keegan takes charge of England next weekend. It proved to be a great send off for Keegan, and following three away wins in a week, his side recorded their 12th home win in succession to equal the club record. They now have a break until Easter Monday with the away game at Walsall being rearranged, due to Fulham having four players away on international duty, although none of them with England.
The result of this game never really looked in any doubt although the eventual scoreline was somewhat harsh on the visitors. Blackpool worked hard throughout and were only a goal down at half-time, despite the ever-dangerous Horsfield and Hayles partnership up front for The Cottagers. Steve Banks could do nothing about the opening goal on 20 minutes, when Hayles crashed home a left-foot shot from just inside the box. Horsfield scored Fulham's second after Paul Trollope had headed into his path. The in-form striker chested the ball down, before unleashing a powerful half-volley into the bottom corner of the net, with The Seasiders defence appealing for offside. The Tangerines captain Phil Clarkson was booked for disputing the decision.
The Londoners made a double substitution on 67 minutes. bringing on Albert and Peschisolido to replace Morgan and Horsfield, and it was the little Canadian forward who set up the third goal for Steve Finnan. Central defender Symons continued his impressive goalscoring form of late by adding the fourth two minutes from time. The Fulham boss said after the game: "It was a great send off." Indeed, with other results going Fulham's way, he was clearly confident that his side are now well on course for promotion. Fulham have now won eight and drawn one of the nine games played since Keegan's England appointment was announced and it would appear that nothing will stop them achieving their goal of automatic promotion.

Chelsea Draw Spanish Mallorca in Cup Semis (March 19)

Chelsea have draw Real Mallorca in the semi-finals of the Cup Winners Cup. In the draw, just made in Geneva, Chelsea were paired with the Spanish side who defeated Varteks 3-1 last night. The Blues will play at home in the first leg on Thursday 8th April and the second leg away on Thursday 22nd April. In the other tie Lokomotive Moscow will play Lazio for a place in the final at Villa Park on 19th May.
Real Mallorca have been flying high in the Spanish league this season, topping the table for several months. They have slipped to 4th at the moment but are only 5 points off top spot held by Barcelona so, like us, have hopes of the title and are pushing for a Champions League spot. So anyone expecting a stroll in the sun is going to be dissapointed, make no mistake they are a good side and chelsea will have to be at their best over the two legs to go through to the final.

Fulham and England Manager Keegan Names English Squad For Euro Qualifiers (March 18)

Kevin Keegan, who had a few temperamental moments during his own illustrious international career, threw out a handful of second chances to the exiled when he named his first England squad yesterday. Chris Sutton has been pardoned for refusing his country's call, Ray Parlour is rehabilitated after not taking Eileen Drewery seriously and the new England coach has backed Steve McManaman, even though Liverpool are now ignoring him in his dog days at Anfield before he joins Real Madrid. Even Paul Gascoigne, absent from the list, was told with some emphasis that his international career is not over for good. With Graeme Le Saux and Robbie Fowler also being offered a further opportunity to work out some form of entente cordiale, Keegan has managed to bless his first squad with the aura of professionalism.
Despite the national obsession with Gazza, which is dying down to a dull roar at last without quite having vanished, it was Sutton's reappearance after refusing to play in a B game against Chile which was the most dramatic. Keegan said: 'Like everybody else, I looked at Chris's choice not to play for his country that time and I thought "why?" I shall probably ask him that as soon as I see him. 'But I walked out on Don Revie once and also threw my shirt off at Wembley after I was sent off, so I can't criticise him too strongly. Players are under such pressure at that level that they can do things even they cannot understand.
Without naming Hoddle, Keegan could hardly have distanced himself further from some of his predecessor's decisions and policies. The exclusion of Parlour, for example, always seemed particularly strange, especially from France 98. The Arsenal midfielder has utterly re-fashioned himself as a professional footballer who wins medals for fun and offers the great threat of skill at pace. Keegan said: 'Personally, I would have taken Ray to the World Cup. I said so at the time on television and I have not changed my mind. 'I don't know what else he had to do to get into the squad, coming from the team that won the Double and with his ability to play in different positions. More than anybody, he deserves to be in this squad.'
Keegan does share Hoddle's concerns over that perennial question: Gazza's fitness. But while Hoddle always gave the impression that his middle name was 'Wary', Keegan is more optimistic, though he agrees that no-one can play top-level international football without being in shape. Keegan said: 'I bumped into Gazza coming off a train at King's Cross station not long after my appointment was announced. There was a sparkle in his eyes and he is on his way back. That's not just what everyone wants to hear, I firmly believe it.
Although Keegan stressed that he does not yet have a formation and game plan set in stone for the Poland game next Saturday, he did hint at the likelihood of a 3-5-2 lineup. The need for fit, busy midfielders like Tottenham's surprise call-up Tim Sherwood; the recall of David Batty; McManaman's ability to turn out for his country despite Gerard Houllier's choice to drop him for Liverpool - all give clues to Keegan's mindset. Fulham often play the system and although much of Europe has reverted to 4-4-2 and its various combinations, Keegan may feel that he is safest on familiar territory. He did sound a note of caution, adding: 'What if one or two players in key positions are suddenly not fit? Even the absence of one player can move your selection like a kaleidoscope and change the style of play. 'Steve McManaman is a natural athlete and I would have no qualms about putting him in the team if needs be. I know how hard it is to leave Liverpool because the same thing happened to me. But I'm not interested in the politics up there.
Keegan, who showed his forward thinking by asking teenagers Jonathon Woodgate of Leeds and Liverpool's Steve Gerrard to join the squad for training, also agonised over the veterans who did not make the squad. 'I started to make a list of the unlucky players - Gascoigne, Paul Merson, Dion Dublin - and I stopped because it was getting too long,' said Keegan. 'In fact, Dion has been very, very unlucky - but the door is not closed for any of them.' Unlucky hardly covers it for the Aston Villa striker, who was on monstrously good form for England's last but one international, against the Czech Republic. But injury, suspension and his club's nosedive all conspired against him.

England Squad:

Goalkeepers: David Seaman (Arsenal), Nigel Martyn (Leeds).

Defenders: Tony Adams (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (West Ham), Martin Keown (Arsenal), Gary Neville (Man Utd), Phil Neville (Man Utd), Graeme Le Saux (Chelsea), Andy Hinchcliffe (Sheff Wed), Gareth Southgate (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Ray Parlour (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Man Utd), David Beckham (Man Utd), David Batty (Leeds), Steve McManaman (Liverpool), Darren Anderton (Tottenham), Tim Sherwood (Tottenham), Jamie Redknapp (Liverpool).

Forwards: Andy Cole (Man Utd), Alan Shearer (Newcastle), Michael Owen (Liverpool), Robbie Fowler (Liverpool), Chris Sutton (Blackburn).

Chelsea Dominate Valerenga and Advance to Cup Winners Cup Semis On 6-2 Aggregate (March 18)

Gianluca Vialli scores Chelsea's first goal against Valerenga

OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Chelsea added two early goals to its existing 3-0 advantage Thursday before coasting into the Cup Winners' Cup semifinals with a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Norweigian part-timers Valerenga. The defending titlist had a 3-0 edge after the first-leg at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago but two goals in the opening 15 minutes to Gianluca Vialli and Bernard Lambourde clinched the semifinal berth. Chelsea set up 3-2 lead at halftime Thursday and advanced on a 6-2 advantage after a scoreless second half in wet conditions at Ullaavi Stadium.
Vialli returned to the Chelsea lineup and immediately set about rectifying the team's lackluster recent form with a goal in the 11th minute -- the Blues' first goal in 286 minutes of soccer. The Italian player-manager scored with a left-right combination. He initially miscued a cross from John Terry with his left boot but wrong footed Valerenga 'keeper Mikko Kaven in the process and then found the net with a right-footed half volley. Lambournde extended the lead in the 15th minute with a 30-yard drive after a Valerenga defensive mistake from a Dennis Wise corner. The home team hit back in the 27th minute when captain Fredrik Kjoelner leapt above Chelsea defender Terry to meet Dan Riisnaes' corner -- the home team's first -- and send a header to the left of Blues' goalkeeper Ed De Goey.
But Chelsea restored a two-goal advantage when Tore Andre Flo, preferred to Gianfranco Zola as Vialli's striking partner, scored his first goal in eight matches. The Norweigian international, returning for a rare appearance at Norway's national stadium, scored with a diving header from a Dan Petrescu cross. The tall Valerenga forwards created problems for DeGoey at set pieces but the home team's second goal came from broken play when teenager John Carew beat DeGoey from a difficult angle in a one-on-one encounter in the 41st minute. Carew's goal raised protests from the Chelsea players after the referee over-ruled a signal from his linesman that the scorer was offside. Carew, a school student, took the ball in what appeared to be an offside position but the referee adjudged the ball had been deflected off a Chelsea defender, putting him into an on-side position.

Flo Signs for Five More Years (March 18)

Tore Andre Flo has agreed to sign a new five-year contract with Chelsea this summer. The Norwegian international, back in his native country for Chelsea's European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-final second leg tie against Valerenga in Oslo tonight, confirmed he would sign a two-year extension to his current deal. That contract will have three years to run at the end of his season but Chelsea have been anxious to secure the £10-million-rated striker on a long-term basis for some time.
Flo said: 'It is true that we have agreed a new contract and although there are a few more things to discuss, I will sit down in the summer and sign it. It is a two-year extension.' Flo's talent has attracted the attention of other Premiership and European clubs. Earlier this season Chelsea chairman Ken Bates, claimed the 25-year-old was worth at least £20million after Newcastle, managed by former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit, showed an interest. Flo's agreement to sign the two-year extension will come as a major boost to manager Gianluca Vialli, who believes the big Norwegian has the potential to become a Stamford Bridge great and has worked hard to persuade him that he has a major part to play in his first-team plans.
But Flo is likely to start on the bench in Oslo as Chelsea defend a 3-0 lead from the first leg. Vialli is likely to partner fellow Italian Gianfranco Zola in attack as the Norwegian is still not fully fit following the ankle injury which kept him out for two months. Meanwhile, 70 members of Norway's King's Guard were used to clear two feet of snow from Valerenga's pitch. Heavy snowfalls on Tuesday left the pitch covered and despite having under-soil heating, officials called in the Guard to help ensure the tie went ahead.