The draw is made for the qualifying stages of the Euro 2008 championships.
England gain a favourable draw for the tournament to be held in Austria and Switzerland.
Robbie Fowler makes a sensational return to Liverpool.- The draw is made for the qualifying stages of the Euro 2008 championships. England gain a favourable draw for the tournament to be held in Austria and Switzerland as they will face will face Croatia, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra. Scotland are in one of the toughest groups with France, Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia and the Faroe Islands. Wales and the Republic of Ireland will be in the same group as the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Cyprus and San Marino. Northern Ireland will be up against Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The top two from each group qualify and there will be no Play-Offs.
- In one of the most unexpected moves of the transfer window, Robbie Fowler makes a sensational return to Liverpool. 30-year-old Fowler, who is signed on a free transfer in a deal to the end of the season, scored a total of 171 goals in 330 games for Liverpool before joining Leeds United for £11million in 2001. He joined Manchester City for £6million in 2003.
- Champions Chelsea announce losses of £140million - the biggest in the history of football. The club blame the massive increase from the £88million loss made last year on “a series of exceptional one-off items”. Compared to cost of success, relegated Southampton count the cost of failure as the Saints reveal losses of £1.4million for the six months ended 30 November 2005.
- Southend United return to the top of League One with a 2-0 win against next-to-bottom Swindon Town at Roots Hall. Barnsley go fourth with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest with Marc Richards netting both goals in the first-half.
- It is confirmed by the Home Office that uniformed German police officers will be travelling to England before the World Cup to help target suspected troublemakers. The news is welcomed by supporters groups as Minister Paul Goggins explained: “Football disorder remains a lingering menace and that is why we want to minimise the risks and provide better communication about travelling English fans. The preparations for this year’s tournament are extensive and for the first time are likely to include uniformed English and German police officers working side by side.”
- Group D in the African Cup of Nations is finely balanced after leaders Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 2-0 while Ghana kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Senegal. With Zimbabwe out of the running, the other three are fighting for two place as the go into the final group game.