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Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, December 22, 2008
Beckham 32 AC Milan Shirts
David Beckham will wear No 32 at AC Milan
David Beckham impressed the locals from the start when he was unveiled as a new AC Milan player last night, by speaking Italian at his first press conference.
By Nick Pisa in Milan
Last Updated: 7:36PM GMT 20 Dec 2008
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David Beckham will wear No 32 at AC Milan Find Here http//www.footballsportsapparel.com
New beginnings: David Beckham models the No 32 shirt for his new club AC Milan Photo: GETTY IMAGES
David Beckham will wear No 32 at AC Milan
Meeting the boss: David Beckham is introduced to the Italian press by AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani Photo: REUTERS
And the first big question of the latest chapter of his globe-trotting career was swiftly answered when it was revealed that he would wear the No 32 short - "it was the first one I was offered," he said.
Dressed in a blue jumper, jeans, mirrored sunglasses and a scarf against the chill he smiled and waved at the small group of fans who had gathered to welcome him.
After landing at Milan's Malpensa airport he headed off to a private clinic for a medical, which he reportedly passed with flying colours.
As he left the airport he said: "I am honoured to be here and to play for one of the most successful clubs in the world. I have played for the biggest club in England, the biggest club in Spain and now I want to play for the biggest club in Italy."
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Beckham would stay with Milan until March 8. He added: "We resolved numerous problems, much larger than you would normally have when you buy a player – with the US League, with Galaxy and with all the Beckham entourage."
Beckham also was keen to emphasise that his stay in Milan would be strictly football. "Fashion had nothing to do with coming to Milan," he said. "The red and black shirt and the history of the club took me here."
David Beckham impressed the locals from the start when he was unveiled as a new AC Milan player last night, by speaking Italian at his first press conference.
By Nick Pisa in Milan
Last Updated: 7:36PM GMT 20 Dec 2008
Previous
of Images
Next
David Beckham will wear No 32 at AC Milan Find Here http//www.footballsportsapparel.com
New beginnings: David Beckham models the No 32 shirt for his new club AC Milan Photo: GETTY IMAGES
David Beckham will wear No 32 at AC Milan
Meeting the boss: David Beckham is introduced to the Italian press by AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani Photo: REUTERS
And the first big question of the latest chapter of his globe-trotting career was swiftly answered when it was revealed that he would wear the No 32 short - "it was the first one I was offered," he said.
Dressed in a blue jumper, jeans, mirrored sunglasses and a scarf against the chill he smiled and waved at the small group of fans who had gathered to welcome him.
After landing at Milan's Malpensa airport he headed off to a private clinic for a medical, which he reportedly passed with flying colours.
As he left the airport he said: "I am honoured to be here and to play for one of the most successful clubs in the world. I have played for the biggest club in England, the biggest club in Spain and now I want to play for the biggest club in Italy."
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Beckham would stay with Milan until March 8. He added: "We resolved numerous problems, much larger than you would normally have when you buy a player – with the US League, with Galaxy and with all the Beckham entourage."
Beckham also was keen to emphasise that his stay in Milan would be strictly football. "Fashion had nothing to do with coming to Milan," he said. "The red and black shirt and the history of the club took me here."
Saturday, September 13, 2008
LIVERPOOL 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
iverpool boss Rafael Benitez earned his first Premier League win over Manchester United courtesy of Ryan Babel's deserved late winner.
Carlos Tevez had stunned the Reds after three minutes by expertly sidefooting in a Dimitar Berbatov pull back.
United keeper Edwin Van der Sar palmed a clearance against Wes Brown and saw it roll into his net for the equaliser.
The Reds started to dominate and Babel scuffed in a shot for the winner before United's Nemanja Vidic was sent off.
The victory was Benitez's first in the top flight over United since he took over in the summer of 2004 and was achieved without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the starting line-up.
Benitez pleased with strength of squad
Despite their star men being on the bench after returning from injury, Liverpool produced a performance of real verve to turn around a match which looked out of their grasp during the opening stages.
Three points seemed unlikely after Benitez saw his side fall behind in worrying fashion after just three minutes as United debutant Berbatov made an immediate impact for his new team.
He was reunited with ex-Tottenham strike partner Robbie Keane at Anfield as the duo lined up on opposing sides at Anfield.
And, while Keane has struggled to make an impact for Liverpool, Berbatov had no such trouble.
He latched on to a clever ball by Anderson and pulled a ball back from the byeline for Tevez, who lost marker Javier Mascherano, to unerringly beat Pepe Reina.
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606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
Dirk Kuyt volleyed just wide for the home side but the Reds had been shaken by the goal as they struggled to come to terms with the passing and power of the visitors.
Van der Sar was the main weakness in his side's dominance and gave a sign of things to come when he palmed a cross to Kuyt.
He redeemed himself by blocking the striker's point-blank shot but had no such fortune shortly afterwards
The Dutchman bemusingly dived to punch the ball clear - after Xabi Alonso's shot had deflected into the United box off Patrice Evra - only to push the ball against Brown and into the United net.
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Phelan admits Man Utd 'did not perform'
Just as the first goal drained Liverpool of their belief, the leveller had the reverse effect, although they escaped a scare when Tevez put a shot over at the near post from a low Anderson cross.
The home fans were also buoyed by the goal and their team's play and tried to inspire them to greater heights after the break.
Liverpool responded by taking a stranglehold on the game and Keane chipped a ball to put Benayoun through on goal.
But the Israeli's control took him a little wide and allowed Van der Sar to block his acute angled shot.
Berbatov had become a peripheral figure for the visitors as they struggled to find the form with which they started the match.
But, despite being on the backfoot, they did gave a warning of their counter-attacking threat as a dipping Ryan Giggs strike was tipped over following Gerrard's loss of possession.
Carlos Tevez kisses a tattoo on his arm after putting Man Utd ahead at Liverpool
Tevez stunned Liverpool with his early goal
Liverpool continued to push and probe and were rewarded when Mascherano stole the ball from Giggs as he tried to shepherd it out of play for a goal-kick.
The Argentine passed to Kuyt and he found an unmarked substitute Babel, whose shot bounced before going into the United goal to send the home crowd into raptures.
Vidic's dismissal for a second bookable offence on 90 minutes compounded United's misery after he lead with his elbow while contesting an aerial challenge with Alonso.
Liverpool, meanwhile, briefly moved top of the Premier League until Chelsea overtook them on goal difference after beating Manchester City in an evening game.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez:
"The fans deserved the win and so do the players after their fantastic work-rate and effort they have put in.
"We played better after the break after conceding an early goal in the first-half. It was a good game and we deserved to win."
Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan:
"We were only in the game for seven or eight minutes and after that we did not perform.
"They bossed us out of the game and their tactics worked as they put us under pressure.
"We never responded and we did not react after the break and we succumbed to the pressure.
"We did not take control of the game and we struggled and now we have to get back to basics."
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Alonso, Mascherano (Hyypia 87), Riera (Babel 71), Kuyt, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Torres, Ngog.
Goals: Brown 27 og, Babel 77.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Carrick (Giggs 46), Anderson (Nani 78), Tevez, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, O'Shea, Fletcher.
Sent Off: Vidic (90).
Booked: Tevez, Vidic, Nani.
Goals: Tevez 3.
Att: 44,192
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Carlos Tevez had stunned the Reds after three minutes by expertly sidefooting in a Dimitar Berbatov pull back.
United keeper Edwin Van der Sar palmed a clearance against Wes Brown and saw it roll into his net for the equaliser.
The Reds started to dominate and Babel scuffed in a shot for the winner before United's Nemanja Vidic was sent off.
The victory was Benitez's first in the top flight over United since he took over in the summer of 2004 and was achieved without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the starting line-up.
Benitez pleased with strength of squad
Despite their star men being on the bench after returning from injury, Liverpool produced a performance of real verve to turn around a match which looked out of their grasp during the opening stages.
Three points seemed unlikely after Benitez saw his side fall behind in worrying fashion after just three minutes as United debutant Berbatov made an immediate impact for his new team.
He was reunited with ex-Tottenham strike partner Robbie Keane at Anfield as the duo lined up on opposing sides at Anfield.
And, while Keane has struggled to make an impact for Liverpool, Berbatov had no such trouble.
He latched on to a clever ball by Anderson and pulled a ball back from the byeline for Tevez, who lost marker Javier Mascherano, to unerringly beat Pepe Reina.
.
606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
Dirk Kuyt volleyed just wide for the home side but the Reds had been shaken by the goal as they struggled to come to terms with the passing and power of the visitors.
Van der Sar was the main weakness in his side's dominance and gave a sign of things to come when he palmed a cross to Kuyt.
He redeemed himself by blocking the striker's point-blank shot but had no such fortune shortly afterwards
The Dutchman bemusingly dived to punch the ball clear - after Xabi Alonso's shot had deflected into the United box off Patrice Evra - only to push the ball against Brown and into the United net.
.
Phelan admits Man Utd 'did not perform'
Just as the first goal drained Liverpool of their belief, the leveller had the reverse effect, although they escaped a scare when Tevez put a shot over at the near post from a low Anderson cross.
The home fans were also buoyed by the goal and their team's play and tried to inspire them to greater heights after the break.
Liverpool responded by taking a stranglehold on the game and Keane chipped a ball to put Benayoun through on goal.
But the Israeli's control took him a little wide and allowed Van der Sar to block his acute angled shot.
Berbatov had become a peripheral figure for the visitors as they struggled to find the form with which they started the match.
But, despite being on the backfoot, they did gave a warning of their counter-attacking threat as a dipping Ryan Giggs strike was tipped over following Gerrard's loss of possession.
Carlos Tevez kisses a tattoo on his arm after putting Man Utd ahead at Liverpool
Tevez stunned Liverpool with his early goal
Liverpool continued to push and probe and were rewarded when Mascherano stole the ball from Giggs as he tried to shepherd it out of play for a goal-kick.
The Argentine passed to Kuyt and he found an unmarked substitute Babel, whose shot bounced before going into the United goal to send the home crowd into raptures.
Vidic's dismissal for a second bookable offence on 90 minutes compounded United's misery after he lead with his elbow while contesting an aerial challenge with Alonso.
Liverpool, meanwhile, briefly moved top of the Premier League until Chelsea overtook them on goal difference after beating Manchester City in an evening game.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez:
"The fans deserved the win and so do the players after their fantastic work-rate and effort they have put in.
"We played better after the break after conceding an early goal in the first-half. It was a good game and we deserved to win."
Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan:
"We were only in the game for seven or eight minutes and after that we did not perform.
"They bossed us out of the game and their tactics worked as they put us under pressure.
"We never responded and we did not react after the break and we succumbed to the pressure.
"We did not take control of the game and we struggled and now we have to get back to basics."
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Alonso, Mascherano (Hyypia 87), Riera (Babel 71), Kuyt, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Torres, Ngog.
Goals: Brown 27 og, Babel 77.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Carrick (Giggs 46), Anderson (Nani 78), Tevez, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, O'Shea, Fletcher.
Sent Off: Vidic (90).
Booked: Tevez, Vidic, Nani.
Goals: Tevez 3.
Att: 44,192
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Croatia 1 England 4
Croatia 1-4 England
England teenager Theo Walcott celebrates completing his hat-trick in Zagreb
Walcott celebrates completing his hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb
By Jonathan Stevenson
Theo Walcott hit a stunning hat-trick as England thrashed Croatia in a World Cup qualifying tie in Zagreb.
The 19-year-old got the nod to start ahead of David Beckham and he drilled England ahead, before Robert Kovac was sent off for an elbow on Joe Cole.
Walcott grabbed a carbon-copy second and soon after the exceptional Wayne Rooney slotted in a brilliant third.
Mario Mandzukic notched a consolation for Croatia, before Walcott collected Rooney's pass and rolled in his third.
It was a magnificent performance and more than coach Fabio Capello can have dreamed of.
The result puts England firmly in control of Group Six after two wins in five days, but Capello will be even more delighted by the manner of his team's triumph.
Croatia suffered their first competitive defeat at home and it was sweet revenge for England, beating the team that ended their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.
606: DEBATE
I can't believe I'm saying this, but what a GREAT performance by England
kingjoehanlon
It was a far cry from England's limp displays under Steve McClaren and they were far superior in every department.
In the wonderful Walcott, they had a player who frightened the life out of the hosts whenever he got the ball.
The Arsenal winger gave the ball away with his first involvement, but from then on everything he touched seemed to turn to goals as he wreaked havoc down the right flank.
With Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard dominating in midfield and Rooney linking play up between the midfield and Emile Heskey, England pinned Croatia back into their own half from the start.
After Heskey had a decent shout for a penalty waved away, Walcott put England in front with his first goal for his country.
There was a stroke of fortune about it as Danijel Pranjic's clearance cannoned straight into Robert Kovac and when the ball fell to Walcott inside the box on the right, he lashed it into the bottom corner.
A minute later Walcott's cross-shot from a similar position was touched behind by keeper Stipe Pletikosa, before Josip Simunic was booked for a cynical foul as Walcott's pace terrorised Croatia once more.
Joe Cole suffered a head injury in the second half
The only disappointment for England was a head injury to Joe Cole
Eight minutes after the break Croatia suffered a hammer blow when Robert Kovac went up for a challenge with Joe Cole and appeared to lead with his elbow, causing the Chelsea midfielder to bleed from a wound on his head.
Kovac was rightly sent off and Cole had to be stretchered off, but six minutes later England went 2-0 ahead when the sublime Rooney - enjoying a glorious return to form wearing the three lions - beautifully teed up Walcott to smash in his second.
England were rampant, and Jermaine Jenas scampered away down the left and pulled the ball back for Rooney to open up his body and direct the ball into the corner.
It was like watching England at their Euro 96 best as they passed the ball around with devastating accuracy and Lampard was cruelly denied a goal after another gorgeous team move when his goal was ruled out for a foul committed by Heskey.
Croatia were all over the place, but they managed a consolation when Darijo Srna broke and he fed Mandzukic to drive the ball under David James.
England were not done, though, and Rooney turned provider once more to slip Walcott in on goal, the former Southampton star racing through and keeping his head to slot under Pletikosa to complete his treble.
It was the first competitive hat-trick for an England player since Michael Owen bagged three against Germany in the 5-1 win in Munich in 2001, and they can be every bit as pleased with this result in the cauldron of the Maksimir Stadium.
Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric (Knezevic 56), Nico Kovac (Pokrivac 62), Srna, Modric, Olic (Mandzukic 73).
Subs Not Used: Runje, Krizanac, Leko, Klasnic.
Sent Off: Robert Kovac (53).
Booked: Simunic, Srna.
Goals: Mandzukic 78.
England: James, Brown, Terry (Upson 88), Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott (Beckham 84), Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole (Jenas 55), Rooney, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Johnson, Downing, Defoe.
Booked: Heskey.
Goals: Walcott 26, 59, Rooney 63, Walcott 82.
Att: 35,000.
Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).
England teenager Theo Walcott celebrates completing his hat-trick in Zagreb
Walcott celebrates completing his hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb
By Jonathan Stevenson
Theo Walcott hit a stunning hat-trick as England thrashed Croatia in a World Cup qualifying tie in Zagreb.
The 19-year-old got the nod to start ahead of David Beckham and he drilled England ahead, before Robert Kovac was sent off for an elbow on Joe Cole.
Walcott grabbed a carbon-copy second and soon after the exceptional Wayne Rooney slotted in a brilliant third.
Mario Mandzukic notched a consolation for Croatia, before Walcott collected Rooney's pass and rolled in his third.
It was a magnificent performance and more than coach Fabio Capello can have dreamed of.
The result puts England firmly in control of Group Six after two wins in five days, but Capello will be even more delighted by the manner of his team's triumph.
Croatia suffered their first competitive defeat at home and it was sweet revenge for England, beating the team that ended their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.
606: DEBATE
I can't believe I'm saying this, but what a GREAT performance by England
kingjoehanlon
It was a far cry from England's limp displays under Steve McClaren and they were far superior in every department.
In the wonderful Walcott, they had a player who frightened the life out of the hosts whenever he got the ball.
The Arsenal winger gave the ball away with his first involvement, but from then on everything he touched seemed to turn to goals as he wreaked havoc down the right flank.
With Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard dominating in midfield and Rooney linking play up between the midfield and Emile Heskey, England pinned Croatia back into their own half from the start.
After Heskey had a decent shout for a penalty waved away, Walcott put England in front with his first goal for his country.
There was a stroke of fortune about it as Danijel Pranjic's clearance cannoned straight into Robert Kovac and when the ball fell to Walcott inside the box on the right, he lashed it into the bottom corner.
A minute later Walcott's cross-shot from a similar position was touched behind by keeper Stipe Pletikosa, before Josip Simunic was booked for a cynical foul as Walcott's pace terrorised Croatia once more.
Joe Cole suffered a head injury in the second half
The only disappointment for England was a head injury to Joe Cole
Eight minutes after the break Croatia suffered a hammer blow when Robert Kovac went up for a challenge with Joe Cole and appeared to lead with his elbow, causing the Chelsea midfielder to bleed from a wound on his head.
Kovac was rightly sent off and Cole had to be stretchered off, but six minutes later England went 2-0 ahead when the sublime Rooney - enjoying a glorious return to form wearing the three lions - beautifully teed up Walcott to smash in his second.
England were rampant, and Jermaine Jenas scampered away down the left and pulled the ball back for Rooney to open up his body and direct the ball into the corner.
It was like watching England at their Euro 96 best as they passed the ball around with devastating accuracy and Lampard was cruelly denied a goal after another gorgeous team move when his goal was ruled out for a foul committed by Heskey.
Croatia were all over the place, but they managed a consolation when Darijo Srna broke and he fed Mandzukic to drive the ball under David James.
England were not done, though, and Rooney turned provider once more to slip Walcott in on goal, the former Southampton star racing through and keeping his head to slot under Pletikosa to complete his treble.
It was the first competitive hat-trick for an England player since Michael Owen bagged three against Germany in the 5-1 win in Munich in 2001, and they can be every bit as pleased with this result in the cauldron of the Maksimir Stadium.
Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric (Knezevic 56), Nico Kovac (Pokrivac 62), Srna, Modric, Olic (Mandzukic 73).
Subs Not Used: Runje, Krizanac, Leko, Klasnic.
Sent Off: Robert Kovac (53).
Booked: Simunic, Srna.
Goals: Mandzukic 78.
England: James, Brown, Terry (Upson 88), Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott (Beckham 84), Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole (Jenas 55), Rooney, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Johnson, Downing, Defoe.
Booked: Heskey.
Goals: Walcott 26, 59, Rooney 63, Walcott 82.
Att: 35,000.
Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
ANDORRA 0 ENGLAND 2 (World Cup Qualifier 2010)
Two-goal hero Joe Cole spared England's blushes as Fabio Capello's side began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a stuttering victory over Andorra.
In Capello's first competitive match in charge, England dominated but were booed off at half-time after failing to break down Andorra's packed defence.
Cole came on at the break and made an instant impact, volleying home Frank Lampard's free-kick on 49 minutes.
Six minutes later, Cole prodded home his second from Wayne Rooney's pass.
It was a match reminiscent of England's last visit to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, under Steve McClaren in March 2007, when they were also jeered off at the interval and had to wait until Steven Gerrard's 54th-minute goal to break the deadlock against the part-timers.
Again England's frustration grew as Andorra, ranked 186th in the world, continued to hold out and Capello will be relieved that the changes he made at the break paid dividends.
He may have left established players such as Joe Cole and David Beckham on the bench here with Wednesday's game in Croatia match in mind but it will worry him that their replacements struggled against such unheralded opposition.
Initially, Capello's decision to hand a first start to Theo Walcott looked a good one, with the Arsenal forward involved in two good chances in the first three minutes.
Walcott used his pace to reach a ball on the byeline then sent it across the face of goal and, after Rooney miscued, Jermain Defoe was beaten to the ball by Koldo.
Seconds later, Walcott ran into the area to meet a lofted pass from Rooney but had to rush his shot and clipped the ball narrowly over.
606: DEBATE
Overall, I think this is a good result because Andorra had 11 men in their own half most of the time
Footastic footy
It was a promising start for England but, despite them staying in complete control, that was as good as it got for the visitors in front of goal in the first half.
Capello continued to try to use Walcott's speed on the right flank but he was increasingly crowded out as the match wore on.
And, with Stewart Downing's crossing completely ineffective on the opposite wing, England quickly ran out of ideas.
Too many times the ball was pumped aimlessly into the Andorra area where, with Defoe unable to offer a physical presence, it was easily cleared by defenders.
Fabio Capello
Capello saw his England side struggle for ideas in the first half
The travelling England fans showed their discontent as the players came off at the interval and, unsurprisingly, Capello made changes - replacing the Downing with Joe Cole and sending Emile Heskey on in place of Defoe.
Cole had a point to prove after being left out of Capello's last four starting line-ups and immediately looked lively.
He soon made his presence felt too, providing an emphatic first-time finish when Joleon Lescott flicked Lampard's free-kick into his path.
The goal visibly lifted England and John Terry went close to making it 2-0 when he drove a shot into the side-netting from the edge of the area.
A second goal was not long coming, however, and inevitably it was Cole who got it - running on to Rooney's superbly weighted pass to prod the ball past the onrushing Koldo.
Glen Johnson thought he had added a third just after the hour mark but his powerful strike was ruled out because Cole - for once the villain - had drifted into an offside position.
By now England were more than comfortable and Terry also came close to adding to their tally against a side that managed only one shot on target in the entire match and were clearly only interested in damage-limitation.
But there are harder tests to come in Group Six, starting with the trip to Zagreb on Wednesday to face Croatia - the scourge of McClaren in his failed bid to reach Euro 2008.
Andorra: Alvarez, Ayala, Txema, Sonejee, Antoni Lima (Fernandez 90), Ildefons Lima, Pujol (Vales 90), Vieira, Silva (Toscano 65), Jimenez, Andorra.
Booked: Silva, Vieira, Antoni Lima.
England: James, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Ashley Cole, Walcott, Barry, Lampard (Beckham 79), Downing (Joe Cole 45), Rooney, Defoe (Heskey 45).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Brown, Bridge, Bentley.
Goals: Joe Cole 49, 55.
Att: 17,500
Ref: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).
In Capello's first competitive match in charge, England dominated but were booed off at half-time after failing to break down Andorra's packed defence.
Cole came on at the break and made an instant impact, volleying home Frank Lampard's free-kick on 49 minutes.
Six minutes later, Cole prodded home his second from Wayne Rooney's pass.
It was a match reminiscent of England's last visit to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, under Steve McClaren in March 2007, when they were also jeered off at the interval and had to wait until Steven Gerrard's 54th-minute goal to break the deadlock against the part-timers.
Again England's frustration grew as Andorra, ranked 186th in the world, continued to hold out and Capello will be relieved that the changes he made at the break paid dividends.
He may have left established players such as Joe Cole and David Beckham on the bench here with Wednesday's game in Croatia match in mind but it will worry him that their replacements struggled against such unheralded opposition.
Initially, Capello's decision to hand a first start to Theo Walcott looked a good one, with the Arsenal forward involved in two good chances in the first three minutes.
Walcott used his pace to reach a ball on the byeline then sent it across the face of goal and, after Rooney miscued, Jermain Defoe was beaten to the ball by Koldo.
Seconds later, Walcott ran into the area to meet a lofted pass from Rooney but had to rush his shot and clipped the ball narrowly over.
606: DEBATE
Overall, I think this is a good result because Andorra had 11 men in their own half most of the time
Footastic footy
It was a promising start for England but, despite them staying in complete control, that was as good as it got for the visitors in front of goal in the first half.
Capello continued to try to use Walcott's speed on the right flank but he was increasingly crowded out as the match wore on.
And, with Stewart Downing's crossing completely ineffective on the opposite wing, England quickly ran out of ideas.
Too many times the ball was pumped aimlessly into the Andorra area where, with Defoe unable to offer a physical presence, it was easily cleared by defenders.
Fabio Capello
Capello saw his England side struggle for ideas in the first half
The travelling England fans showed their discontent as the players came off at the interval and, unsurprisingly, Capello made changes - replacing the Downing with Joe Cole and sending Emile Heskey on in place of Defoe.
Cole had a point to prove after being left out of Capello's last four starting line-ups and immediately looked lively.
He soon made his presence felt too, providing an emphatic first-time finish when Joleon Lescott flicked Lampard's free-kick into his path.
The goal visibly lifted England and John Terry went close to making it 2-0 when he drove a shot into the side-netting from the edge of the area.
A second goal was not long coming, however, and inevitably it was Cole who got it - running on to Rooney's superbly weighted pass to prod the ball past the onrushing Koldo.
Glen Johnson thought he had added a third just after the hour mark but his powerful strike was ruled out because Cole - for once the villain - had drifted into an offside position.
By now England were more than comfortable and Terry also came close to adding to their tally against a side that managed only one shot on target in the entire match and were clearly only interested in damage-limitation.
But there are harder tests to come in Group Six, starting with the trip to Zagreb on Wednesday to face Croatia - the scourge of McClaren in his failed bid to reach Euro 2008.
Andorra: Alvarez, Ayala, Txema, Sonejee, Antoni Lima (Fernandez 90), Ildefons Lima, Pujol (Vales 90), Vieira, Silva (Toscano 65), Jimenez, Andorra.
Booked: Silva, Vieira, Antoni Lima.
England: James, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Ashley Cole, Walcott, Barry, Lampard (Beckham 79), Downing (Joe Cole 45), Rooney, Defoe (Heskey 45).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Brown, Bridge, Bentley.
Goals: Joe Cole 49, 55.
Att: 17,500
Ref: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey).
Cappelo's Croatia Concern
Fabio Capello believes England will perform with more confidence in Croatia than they have when playing at Wembley.
"I know what happened in the past but I always think about the future," he said.
Croatia have never lost a competitive game at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, but Capello feels his side may be under less pressure there than at home.
"When we play at home we don't play with a lot of confidence, so I prefer to play away from home," the England coach said.
"We are very good technically but sometimes during games we don't do it."
Both captain John Terry and striker Jermain Defoe have stated England would be happy to come away with a draw from Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Zagreb, but Capello believes a win is possible.
He said: "I think we played every game better and with more confidence, in this moment I know Croatia and their strong points.
"I'm sure tomorrow we will play well. I understand the spirit of the group, the spirit of the team is going up."
Capello's men know from experience that their results against Croatia are likely to have a significant bearing on their hopes of progressing to South Africa in 2010.
The Croats beat England home and away en route to Euro 2008, their 3-2 victory at Wembley in November ending England's bid to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
But the Italian doesn't believe that result will have a bearing on Wednesday's outcome.
 | PHIL MCNULTY BLOG |
"It's a new game, a new season and the players now aren't thinking about what happened in the last game, they're focusing on this game.
"We're a different team, with a different manager."
Meanwhile, captain John Terry maintains the memory of the defeats in Zagreb and at Wembley will be as good a motivator as any team talk.
He said: "Sometimes it's called for and I will do that to get the group going, but a calm head is sometimes a wise head.
"The memories of what happened here last time will be enough to get the lads fighting.
"Their home record speaks for itself, we have to respect them and that's what we will do.
"But we've moved forward from a year ago, we're in better shape than we were then, and we need to move forward with confidence.
"We didn't have that at Wembley, but here it's a fresh start, and a new campaign."
Terry also acknowledged England needed to repay their travelling fans after receiving boos during their last outing against Andorra.
"We owe every single England fan success, good performances and results," he said.
"The fans are paying a lot of money to see us and we need to improve."
England lie second in Group Six after beating Andorra 2-0 in their opening qualifier on Saturday, while Croatia top the pool following their 3-0 win against Kazakhstan.
Only the group winners are guaranteed a place in South Africa, with eight of the nine runners-up entering the play-offs and the one remaining runner-up missing out altogether.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Manchester City Move In For Ronaldo
Manchester United chief David Gill has rejected claims rivals City will make a £135m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo under new owners Abu Dhabi United Group.
Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the billionaire businessman at the centre of the Manchester City takeover, has publicly drawn up a list of big-money targets.
But Gill told BBC Radio 5 Live he is treating it "with a pinch of salt".
"I can't believe he is serious at those levels and, anyway, we are not looking to sell our best players," he added.
"Ultimately we would discuss any offer with (Manchester United manager) Alex (Ferguson) and the owners, as that sort of money is very large for one person.
"But he mentioned (Fernando) Torres and (Cesc) Fabregas in the same article, so I think we can remain calm, wait and see what happens over the course of the next months and years, and not worry about it too much."
Other players on Al-Fahim's list include United defender Rio Ferdinand, AC Milan's Kaka and Didier Drogba of Chelsea amid claims he could be willing to spend up to £1bn solely on player purchases.
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"I have never met the gentleman, so I couldn't say for sure whether he is serious or not," said Gill. "But that is a fantastic amount of money and would turn the industry upside down.
"Still, it is interesting that when Alex mentioned the Dimitar Berbatov signing from Spurs in advance that complaints were made to the Premier League and yet he is publicly listing a host of players he claims to want to buy."
Berbatov's arrival at Old Trafford from Tottenham was one of the most controversial moves of the summer, with Spurs alleging that United were far from proper in their approach for the Bulgarian and the £30.75m deal only concluded late on Monday night.
However, despite further claims that Berbatov underwent a medical on Monday and held talks with United without Spurs' express permission, Gill insisted: "We are very comfortable with how the whole thing went.
"There were allegations made, but we are comfortable that how we approached it was entirely correct and within the rules.
| We are very comfortable we had permission to do what we did Gill on Dimitar Berbatov's signing from Tottenham |
"It's true to say when the medical commenced we had not finished all the final negotiations with Spurs but both parties were confident they would be completed to everyone's satisfaction.
"We are very comfortable we had permission to do what we did and it was clear to Tottenham and (Spurs chairman) Daniel Levy in particular that he knew what we were doing and if that wasn't the case we wouldn't have done it."
Gill also confirmed that Berbatov's signing would probably be United's last this season, with the permanent signing of striker Carlos Tevez "the other bit of business we will finalise".
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