A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief ....
Robinho fit to lead line for City
RECORD signing Robinho has been passed fit for Manchester City's last-16 Uefa Cup first-leg tie against Aalborg at Eastlands tonight (kick-off: 7.45, TV: ITV 4).
Robinho returned to Brazil for treatment on an ankle injury at the end of last week but has been able to train since returning and manager Mark Hughes is prepared to place his trust in the €35 million man.
“Robinho has trained all week. He looks fit and will be available,” said Hughes. “He has suffered this injury twice, basically when he goes over on it it aggravates an old injury.
“It is not a major concern but there was a chance that he wouldn’t be available tomorrow so we are thankful it’s not the case.”
With Craig Bellamy missing because of a knee injury, City will be relying on Robinho to provide their major attacking threat against Aalborg, the third Danish team they have faced in the competition.
Lampard comes clean on Hiddink
THE REASON for Chelsea’s resurgence is simple according to Frank Lampard. It is fear; Guus Hiddink has stuck a rocket under the dressingroom.
“He has something special,” Lampard said. “He commands respect but also has a certain aura. All the great coaches I’ve worked with give you fear and Hiddink is one of them.”
Guardian Service
Rovers take their luck to move out of drop zone
A CONTROVERSIAL equaliser from El-Hadji Diouf set English Premier League relegation-strugglers Blackburn Rovers on the road to victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage last night, with Jason Roberts sealing the win five minutes from time.
Clint Dempsey had given the home side a lead after just 90 seconds but the impressive Stephen Warnock gave Fulham a series of scares before they finally succumbed in the 69th minute.
Diouf, who had earlier been booked, appeared to be offside by a considerable distance moments before he scored, but the decision not to flag may prove crucial to Rovers’ survival hopes.
The result saw Sam Alardyce’s side move out of the relegation zone
FA Cup semi-final dates confirmed
THE English Football Association have confirmed the potential FA Cup semi-final derby between Arsenal and Chelsea will take place at Wembley on Saturday, April 18th, with a 5.15pm kick-off.
If Arsenal overcome Hull City at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday, they will tackle Chelsea in the first semi-final, with Manchester United tackling Everton the following day at 4pm.
Setanta will screen the first match, with ITV covering Everton’s bid to repeat their 1995 final victory over United in the other semi-final.
Ireland up three in Fifa rankings
THE Republic of Ireland edged ahead of World Cup rivals Bulgaria in the latest Fifa ranking list with Giovanni Trapattoni’s men moving up three places to replace their next qualification opponents at number 26, one ahead of Stanimir Stoilov’s side, writes Emmet Malone.
The Irish have now climbed 16 places from 42nd when Trapattoni was appointed thanks to having lost one match, the friendly against Poland in November, under the veteran Italian coach.
The top seven places in the list are unchanged with Spain, Germany and the Netherlands still reckoned to be the best three teams in the world while Italy are fourth ahead of Brazil, Argentina and Croatia.
England have dropped one place to eighth while Northern Ireland have jumped seven to number 42.
Another of Ireland’s qualification group opponents are the biggest movers in the top 100 with Cyprus’s win over Slovakia last month prompting a leap of 14 places while Georgia and Montenegro are now 111th and 112th respectively.
