Some of the post read as follows: “I would like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from International rugby. To do so fills me with great sadness but I know that I have been blessed in so many ways to have experienced what I have with the England rugby team. I never ever believed that I would be able to give up on this dream which has driven me to live, breathe, love and embrace the game of rugby from the earliest days that I can remember…”

Wilkinson’s drop goal in the 2003 World Cup Final against Australia, saw England lift the trophy for the prestigious tournament. Wilkinson who leaves Test rugby as the second highest points scorer of all time behind the All Blacks’ Dan Carter, will continue to play for French club Toulon in the Top 14.

The decision does not come as a surprise as the Rugby Football Union (RFU) have made it clear for some time that they intend to enforce a policy of not selecting foreign-based players.

“Everyone who has played with, coached and watched Jonny play should feel privileged to have had an involvement with him,” said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Former Wales and British Lions player Gareth Thomas announced his retirement from rugby in October.

source: MSN Sport

During the confrontation Williams responded to the umpire by saying: “Aren’t you the one that screwed be over the last time here?”  This was later followed by “I truly despise you.”

Williams has recently tweeted about the incident admitting that “My emotions did get the best of me this past weekend when I disagreed with the umpire. It has been a long road to get back to the US Open this year and I am thankful to have had such a great two weeks in New York.”

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After impressing for Tottenham in the opening weeks of the season, Lennon is set to be given a chance in Saturday’s friendly against Belarus to stake his claim for a starting spot on the right flank against Croatia the following Wednesday.

England would qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next June if they make it eight wins from eight Group 6 matches against Croatia at Wembley.

Capello has been impressed by the speed and shooting proficiency of the 22-year-old Lennon, who last played in the victories over Slovakia in March and Ukraine in April.

Crouch was left out of the squad for last month’s 2-2 friendly draw with the Netherlands, but returns after scoring his first goal for new club Spurs in a 2-1 win over Birmingham on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Owen was in Capello’s provisional squad but again failed to make the final 24-man list despite scoring his first goal for Manchester United last week.

But David Beckham remains part of Capello’s plans. The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder could extend England’s outfield appearance record to 115 by featuring in both matches – which would leave him just ten short of matching retired goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125.

Capello plans to make six substitutions on Saturday against Slovenia, which were chosen as opponents ahead of the Croatia match because they have a similar style of play to Slaven Bilic’s side.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham), Paul Robinson (Blackburn).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Wes Brown (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), James Milner (Aston Villa).

Strikers: Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

Source: supersport.co.za

The win was Portugal’s first in five matches. But they outclassed Bafana and showed how far behind Bafana are from the big guns of world soccer. Bafana’s head coach Joel Santana has a massive task ahead if is still dreaming about this squad competing against the world’s best in the Confederations Cup in June and at next year’s World Cup finals.

One could see the difference in class. Portugal are ranked 10th by Fifa while Bafana are 72nd and that gap showed.

If Bafana are to make any impression in either Fifa tournaments then Santana must wake up to the fact that goals win matches and his defensive tactics against top opposition do not work.

Bafana’s fragile ability to defend set pieces and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune’s lack of experience were exposed. Both goals one in each half came from a corner.

Portugal showed they were head and shoulders above a lack lustre Norway who Bafana defeated 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium at the weekend.

Bafana were on the back foot for most of the opening 45 minutes, which Portugal dominated. Santana showed his lack of imagination and ambition by persisted using Bernard Parker as his lone striker and employing two defensive midfielders in Lance Davids and Macbeth Sibaya.

RONALDO ON THE BENCH

Portugal’s head coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Bafana coach, made six changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Sweden in a World Cup qualifier in Porto at the weekend leaving his Manchester United and World Player of the Year Ronaldo on the bench but still Portugal had too much ammunition for Bafana.

If the ultra conservative Santana was hoping to come home with a 0-0 draw he was shocked into reality in the fourth minute when defender Bruno Alves headed into an empty net after a poor goalkeeping error from Khune who came and missed a corner from Chelsea star Deco.

Parker managed to get Bafana’s only shot on target during the entire first half. He forced goalkeeper Eduardo to make a good save from his well aimed striker in the seventh minute.

Parker cried out for support but received little and battled gamely on his own against an experienced and well marshalled Portugal defence that gave little away.

Portuguese debutant Edinho headed a Deco free kick over the crossbar in the 19th minute as Portugal threatened to swamp the out classed South Africans.

Khune stopped a shot from Manchester United’s Nani in the 21st minute and made another save off Nani after 34 minutes.

In between Portugal’s Atletico Madrid midfielder Maniche shot wide when he unleashed a powerful shot in the 28th minute.

Parker was set up by Teko Modise in the 34th minute but the Red Star based striker slipped and his slot went wide.

But after a bright start in the second half, Khune and his defence were suckered again from a Deco corner in the 56th minute which newcomer Edinho scrambled home to make it 2-0 and then on came Ronaldo and classy Simao and it was game over.

But Ronaldo and company were happy to go through the motions and avoid unnecessary injuries.

Bafana’s only chance in the second half fell to substitute Mabhuti Khenyeza who again fluffed a chance in a goal mouth melee.

The Ajax Cape Town striker struggled against Norway and surely now Santana has seen enough and look for a partner for Parker who can score goals on the international stage.

Bafana starting line-up: Khune, Gaxa, Thwala, Morris, Mokoena, Sibaya, Davids, Pienaar (Modubi ’64), Modise (Moriri ’75), Tshabalala (Khenyeza ’63), Parker (Mashego ’74). Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Beckham passed Bobby Moore’s previous record of 108 caps when he came on as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win over Slovakia. On his 109th appearance in an England shirt, Beckham proved his continued worth to the side, setting up Wayne Rooney with a cross for England’s second goal.

Beckham’s impressive cameo will have given coach Fabio Capello food for thought as the Italian prepares to pick his team to face Ukraine in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier.

A win for England would cement their position on top of European qualifying group six and keep Capello’s team firmly on course to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

Capello started the Slovakia match with Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon on the right flank and his pace caused Slovakia problems at times. Beckham admits Lennon offers a different kind of threat and he is prepared to start on the bench if it helps England get a crucial victory.

“Aaron went past players like they weren’t there,” Beckham said. “With the pace he’s got, he’s in exceptional form for Tottenham, he deserved to start.

“Everyone wants to start for England, but at the end of the day, everyone also wants to play for England.

“Substitutes can be very important. We saw that at Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“Sometimes substitutes come on and can help secure a game, or change a game. I was happy with getting on and happy with the assist.

“It is what I have done for my whole career, and if I get a chance there are players like Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey or Peter Crouch to get on the end of it.

“If I start, then I start. If I don’t, then I am part of the team – a good team which is going forwards.”

Although Beckham is now behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton – who has 125 caps – in the all-time England appearance list, the former Manchester United star refuses to dwell on his own achievement because he is focused on Ukraine.

“I just got asked to do a picture with a shirt with 109 on the back but I did that for 100 and obviously it’s a big thing for me but I don’t think we should focus too much on that,” he said.

“But of course I just couldn’t wait to get on and couldn’t wait to get to that 109.

“I said during the week that when I equalled the record I got a note from Stephanie Moore (wife of the late Bobby Moore) saying ‘congratulations’ and Bobby would have been so proud.”

Shilton had complained that he is unhappy Beckham is racking up caps as a substitute, but the AC Milan player received great support from the Wembley crowd as he entered the pitch for the second half.

He insisted that there were no pre-match butterflies.

“I wasn’t nervous – if I’m still nervous playing football and playing at Wembley for England now it’s worrying,” he said.

Beckham reiterated that his time in Milan has played a big part in his continued renaissance in an England shirt.

“I knew and I’ve always known throughout my career that if I’m fit and in top shape then I can play to my best. Obviously Milan’s done that,” he said.

Source: soccernews.com