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Hugh Muir's diary

The News of the World should have a care. Gary's got principles• With so few willing or able to relinquish their lucrative positions on a point of principle, the world of sport owes a huge debt to the former England legend and face of Match of the Day Gary Lineker. He marched away from his...

France head for Bosnia still in shock

Things might not be as bad as Laurent Blanc's team think after their opening loss … but they may be about to get worseYou've got to say, it looks pretty bad. After the World Cup, and the showpiece short-term banishment of the entire offending squad by the new-broom manager Laurent Blanc,...

FA seeks fixtures to help 2018 bid

• Matches lined up to celebrate FA's 150th anniversary in 2013• Argentina federation president is on Fifa executive committeeEngland look set to mark the Football Association's 150th birthday celebrations in 2013 with a friendly match against Argentina.The fixture is understood to be...

Football quiz: Switzerland

Today's questions beat Spain. Ergo, they are world champions.Jacob Steinberg

James Lawton: Just as Best and Gascoigne did, Rooney can discover his perfect sanctuary out on the pitch

A professional golfer of great distinction once confessed to Ernest Hemingway that he never putted so well as when afflicted by a dose of gonorrhoea. It was not a statement to charm country club America, or anywhere else which prided itself on the values of respectable home and hearth, but the...

Stick with Rooney regardless of his private troubles, urges Ancelotti

Fabio Capello was yesterday advised to pick Wayne Rooney for tonight's game in Switzerland by the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, whose cool handling of the scandals that dogged John Terry and Ashley Cole last season helped the club land a first domestic Double.

Football in Brief: Hodgson focused on keeping stars

Roy Hodgson has admitted that his main task is to keep the Liverpool squad together until new owners take over the club and give him money to spend on new players.

Fletcher aims to avoid 'disaster' on his big night

Darren Fletcher will lead Scotland out at Hampden Park this evening to collect his 50th cap and earn the accompanying place in his country's hall of fame. But if he leads the side off 90 minutes later without three points then he and his team-mates will be ushered straight into Scotland's hall of...