A round-up of soccer news

Given reveals secrets behind City's change of direction:

MANCHESTER City goalkeeper Shay Given has revealed that a heated dressingroom discussion led

to the team getting back on track.

Given said that a home truths were dished out after they finished all square with Hull – their seventh

successive draw.

The result of the debate between management and players saw City suddenly regain that winning

mentality, beating Arsenal in the League Cup and then leaders Chelsea in the Premier League.

Given said: “The odd rollicking never did anyone any harm if you take it in the right way. “We’re all grown men as well and you have to take criticism when it comes along.

“I think the win over Arsenal was a really big effort from everyone. It was a platform for the Chelsea

performance.

“We’ve fought tooth and nail for every ball. Maybe during a couple of the draws we had, we just weren’t all at it. We had to address that and we did. We’ve set the bar now and we can’t drop below it.”

Russian players accused of partying

THE Russian FA (RFU) will investigate media allegations that national team players went late-night partying on the eve of last month’s World Cup play-off against Slovenia.

The RFU said it would conduct an internal investigation and also asked for an explanation from

state-controlled Channel One television after a programme last week accused some players of

drinking and smoking hookah pipes before the November 14th first-leg match.

Favourites Russia won the first leg 2-1 in Moscow but were eliminated by Slovenia on away

goals following a 2-2 aggregate draw after losing the return match in Maribor 1-0.

The RFU also asked for explanations from the Marriott Grand hotel, the national team’s headquarters, after hotel employees appeared on the programme accusing players of partying on the night before the Moscow match.

Roma and Lazio fined after delay

ROMA and Lazio have been fined €40,000 each after Sunday’s derby was held up for six minutes in

the first half because of fans throwing firecrackers, the Italian league said in a statement yesterday.

Juventus have been fined €25,000 after a smattering of fans made racist remarks and sang insulting songs during Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Inter Milan.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has been banned from the dugout for one game following his sending off

against Juve for sarcastically applauding the referee, with Juve midfielder Felipe Melo also given a

one-game suspension for his dismissal.

■ TOTTENHAM revealed yesterday that midfielder Wilson Palacios was taken to hospital after  suffering a rib injury at the end of his side's 2-2 draw away at Everton on Sunday afternoon.

Interest in tickets forSA surges

■ APPLICATIONS for World Cup tickets have surged following the draw for next year's event with

almost 222,000 made in the 48 hours since the last phase of sales opened, Fifa said yesterday.

Around one million tickets were made available in the latest phase following Friday's draw in Cape

Town when the groups for the 32-team finals were decided.

A statement from world soccer's governing body said there had been a sudden increase in  applications following the draw.

Ticket applications can be made until January 22nd after which a lottery will decide the successful

fans.

South African organisers have made repeated appeals to locals to buy tickets, fearing that residents

will be outnumbered by foreign fans.

South African residents have bought just over half of the 674,403 tickets sold in the first two phases

of sales. The third phase opened on Saturday with 219,162 applications made. Tickets are being sold over the Internet.

Ibrahimovic takes Swedish break

■ BARCELONA striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic yesterday confirmed his plans to take a break from

international duty in the wake of Sweden’s failure to qualify for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Sweden missed out a spot in South Africa after finishing third in their qualifying group behind

Denmark and Portugal, and Ibrahimovic admits the desire is not there for him to play in friendly

matches and instead will concentrate on club matters with Barca.

“For the moment I will not play for the national team because I’m not motivated, there are no important games nor is there the World Cup, so it’s very difficult,” he said. “I would be wasting energy for no reason, a sacrifice for nothing.

“It’s always been a great honour to play for the national team. I don’t know what will happen in the future, we will see next year.”

Bullard out for up to eight weeks

HULL midfielder Jimmy Bullard will be out for six to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury in

Saturday’s defeat at Aston Villa.

Bullard, the Premier League’s player of the month for November, left the pitch in tears after landing

awkwardly following a challenge in the 3-0 loss.

The injury came in just his fifth appearance since returning from an eight-month lay off following

surgery on his other knee.

Bullard and Hull feared the worst but, after a scan last night, manager Phil Brown was relieved the injury was not as serious as first thought.

“I am sitting here like a man waiting in the emergency room for his wife to give birth,” Brown said.

“It’s been an horrendous day for me but I’m now very hopeful Jimmy will be back on the field of play

before the transfer window closes.

“That’s what I and Jimmy will be looking at. Hopefully we’ll have him for three to four months of the

season still.”

Hiddinl not on for World Cup

RUSSIA coach Guus Hiddink will not lead another team to the 2010 World Cup finals in South

Africa.

The 63-year-old, who has been linked with South Africa and Argentina, said: “I can say for sure that I haven’t signed contracts with anybody, nor have I even held any talks, neither with clubs nor federations.

“I won’t hide the fact that many have wanted to hold talks. But I have declined them all.”