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Carlo Ancelotti shoulders the blame for the gamble that failed

• Decision to make three half-time substitutions backfired• Manager also chose Gaël Kakuta to take decisive penaltyCarlo Ancelotti accepted responsibility for Chelsea's shoot-out Carling Cup defeat at Ewood Park, not only defending his weakened team and bizarre decision to use all...

Agents are useful scapegoats for the public's double standards | Lawrence Donegan

There are worse excesses in other entertainment industries than the £70.7m paid to football's middle menLike putting in a good word for swine flu or banging on about the relaxing effects of smoking, the spirited defence of the football agent is not a good idea at any time but it is an...

World Cup 2010: South Africa ready to provide continental lift

World Cup hosts have proclaimed 'death of doubt' for a nation ready to inspire the troubled African landmassAs the Fifa World Cup trophy arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday night, Danny Jordaan, the architect of next summer's tournament, declared "the death of doubt". The waterfront location was...

Fifa puts England among top seeds

• Fabio Capello's side ranked among the elite for Friday's draw• Theirry Henry could be banned for France's early games England's chances of World Cup success in South Africa were boosted yesterday when Fifa ruled that Fabio Capello's team will be one of the eight top seeds at next...

Manchester United back out of deal for Serbia's 'little Kaká'

• 18-year-old Adem Ljajic deemed too expensive a gamble• United used opt-out clause in £16.5m deal with Zoran Tosic Manchester United's American owners have terminated an agreement to sign Adem Ljajic, the Serbia Under-21 international, in the January transfer window, after...

Man City 3-0 Arsenal

Manchester City revelled in the sort of victory that may see a renewed confidence spill over into the Premier League. In the closing moment the substitute Vladimir Weiss was even able to add a third goal from Craig Bellamy's pass. The victors capered happily into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup...

Blackburn Rovers: potential transfer targets

Blackburn are currently edging just ahead of the relegation pack but Sam Allardyce will be acutely aware that a poor run of results will see them sucked right back in.