Lerner moves in on Villa control

Levein returns at Raith

—– Brazil complete their two-game London programme with a 2-0 win against Wales at Tottenham Hotspur.
In a re-run of the 1958 World Cup quarter-final, the new-look Brazilians defy Wales’ plucky resistance in a compelling friendly.
Left-back Junior Marcelo does a passable impression of his predecessor Roberto Carlos (at his best) with a 25-yard opener before striker Vagner Love adds a second.

—– Aston Villa becoming another foreign-owned Premiership club now looks unstoppable as it is announced that American Randy Lerner has acquired 85.5% of shares in the club, so is set to take full control.
Lerner, who also owns the Cleveland Browns NFL team, owned 59.69% of the former European champions after his £62.2million takeover in August.
With a deadline of 18 September, he must reach 90% stakeholder support before the takeover can be complete. Villa’s existing board of directors remains in place at present.

—– Craig Levein - one of Scotland’s brightest young managerial talents - commences his recovery from a disappointing spell in England by taking on the role as new manager of Raith Rovers on a non-contract basis.
The former Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian boss has been out of football since he was sacked by Leicester City in January.
A boyhood Raith supporter, he succeeds Gordon Dalziel.
From the heady days of playing in the UEFA Cup in 1995-96, the Kirkcaldy club are now in the lower half of the Second Division.

UEFA call for government action

Giacinto Facchetti dies

—– In an astonishing attack on their former defender William Gallas, Chelsea claim they allowed the France international to join rivals Arsenal because he threatened to score an own goal if he was selected for their first game of the season.
In part of a lengthy statement, the club reveals: “He initially refused to play against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final last season in an effort to force an increased contract offer.
“As is now well documented he refused to join up with the team in Los Angeles during pre-season, despite agreeing the dates for his return as the other World Cup players did.
“Before the first game of the season against Manchester City, when only four defenders were available and John Terry was doubtful with an injury, he refused to play.
“He went on to threaten that if he was forced to play, or if he was disciplined and financially punished for his breach of the rules, that he could score an own goal or get himself sent off, or make deliberate mistakes.”
Gallas responds: “I am surprised and shocked by these claims.
“I never said that I would score own goals if I had to play for Chelsea again. I was firm about my wanting to leave, that is true, and I will explain in due time why I wanted to but I never went that far.”

—– With West Ham United becoming the latest Premiership club to be linked with a takeover, sports minister Richard Caborn urges ‘those involved to be as open and transparent as possible’ as UEFA calls for the government to investigate the growth of foreign investors buying into English clubs.
Amid concerns about the anonymity of some investors, UEFA director of communications William Gaillard told the Daily Telegraph: “The UK Government has a responsibility to start investigating.”

—– Giacinto Facchetti, a legend of Italian football, dies at the age of 64.
The former Italy and Inter Milan captain, who was Inter’s current president, had been suffering from a serious illness for several weeks.
An iconic defender, he played 476 Serie A games and captained the “Grande Inter” team that won four league titles and two European Cups in the 1960s.
Giacinto won 94 Italy caps, including 70 as captain. He helped his country win the 1968 European Championship and finish runners-up at the 1970 World Cup.

Brazil beat Argentina at Emirates Stadium

Managerless Rovers stun Vale

—– Amid the ongoing speculation surrounding West Ham United’s signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, the young duo make their London bow in Argentina’s 0-3 defeat to South American rivals Brazil at Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium.
A near capacity crowd see the Brazilians, under new coach Dunga, ease to a 3-0 friendly win with goals from Elano (2) and Kaka.

—– In League One, managerless Doncaster Rovers stun early pacesetters Port Vale with two late goals to win 2-1 at Vale Park.
Carlisle United beat Cheltenham Town 2-0.

—– In League Two, Bury win 1-0 at Peterborough United while Stockport County beat Bristol Rovers 2-1.

England stroll in to Euro 2008 campaign

Speedy Scots banish Faroe fears

—– England lay one of football’s most hackneyed sayings to rest as they prove that there are easy matches in international matches.
With a population that almost matches than the 56,000 Old Trafford attendance, Andorra - arguably, not even a match for a team at England’s Conference club level - approach the Euro 2008 opener as no more than a damage limitation exercise, so can embarrassingly claim a modicum of success as they restrict England to only five goals.
There’s not a hope of the visitors scoring as they rarely venture in to the England half with keeper Paul Robinson in ultra-deckchair and carpet slippers mode.
For the record, the Three Lions scorers are Jemain Defoe (2), Peter Crouch (2) and Steven Gerrard.
Much sterner tests lie ahead for Steve McClaren’s team, but they did their job and they did it well.
The bigger question is how long can UEFA allow such obvious mismatches to continue?
The perennial dilemma of too much football isn’t helped by a bloated 12 match qualifying campaign and quite how Andorran football benefits from regular public humiliation is not entirely obvious.
Similar to the Champions League, it would seem that a pre-qualifying tournament for the smallest nations is more appropriate with the non-qualifiers competing - on a reasonably level playing field - in a secondary competition.
Otherwise, how long will folk (and television companies) continue to pay good money to watch defence v attack training ground sessions?

—– Scotland supporters have been known to break out in to a cold sweat at the very mention of the Faroe Islands, but there’s no such fears today as Walter Smith’s team overwhelm their North Atlantic visitors 6-0 at Celtic Park.
Five of the goals come in the first half with Rangers’ Kris Boyd leading the way for the speedy Scots with two goals.

—– Unlucky Wales suffer late heartbreak in the Czech Republic.
An own goal from defender Martin Jiranek seemed to have rescued a point for Wales in Teplice, after David Lafata’s header gave the Czechs the lead. However, substitute Lafata completed a dream debut by turning in a last-gasp winner.
It proved to be a traumatic trip all round for the Wales squad as the aircraft taking them from Cardiff to Prague was forced to make an emergency landing in Bournemouth after the windscreen cracked.

—– The Republic of Ireland can also feel hard done by with a cruel defeat in Germany.
In Steve Staunton’s first competitive game as manager, the unfancied Republic are heading for a creditable draw until a deflected free-kick by Lukas Podolski on 56 minutes hands the Germans victory in Stuttgart.

—– Northern Ireland’s recent revival is stopped in its tracks as they crash 0-3 to Iceland at Windsor Park.
In front of a sell-out crowd, their woes in the European championships continue having failed to score in their entire Euro 2004 campaign.

—– In League One, Nottingham Forest continue to lead the way with a 4-0 win against Chesterfield at the City Ground.

—– In League Two, Milton Keynes Dons are up to second with a 3-2 win against Notts County.

Moyes to sue over Rooney story

Bristol three jailed

—– Following yesterday’s stunning signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, West Ham United confirm they are having exploratory discussions over a possible takeover.
Georgian businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili announces he is considering investing in the club with Kia Joorabchian.
Iranian-born Joorabchian is a former president of Media Sports Investment. MSI, who owned the rights to the Argentine duo, pulled out of a potential takeover of the Hammers in November 2005 after failing to agree a price with the London club.

—– Everton manager David Moyes issues a writ against Associated Newspapers after the Daily Mail serialised Wayne Rooney’s autobiography, My Story So Far.
The newspaper headline published on 25 July read ‘Moyes forced me out’ although no such comments appear to have been included in the book.

—– Three Bristol City players are jailed after admitting taking part in a drink-fuelled brawl at a city centre nightclub in October.
David Partridge is sentenced to two months while Bradley Orr and Steve Brooker will serve 28 days.
Team mate Scott Brown was given 120 hours’ community service for his part in the disorder.

In League One, Scunthorpe United record their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win at Gillingham.

In League Two, Swindon Town make it six out of six with a 2-0 win at Chester City.