Football - Chelsea’s Didier Drogba
recalled to Ivory Coast squad
Didier Drogba has been included in Ivory Coast’s squad for the first time since the 2010 World Cup ahead of next week’s friendly against Mali. Drogba is part of a 22-man group named by Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui yesterday for the game against Mali in Valence, France, on Tuesday. Fellow Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou, Manchester City defender Kolo Toure and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue are also included. But Drogba and Kalou’s Chelsea teammate, Michael Essien, is again missing for Ghana as coach Goran Stevanovic announced his first squad for a friendly against Togo in Antwerp, Belgium. Midfielders Sulley Muntari and Derek Boateng return for the first time since Ghana’s run to the World Cup quarterfinals last year.
Football - Beckham still a target
for Tottenham in November
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp still wants to sign David Beckham and is prepared to wait until the former England captain’s contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy contract expires in November. Redknapp’s attempt to sign Beckham on loan last month faltered and the midfielder only trained with the north London club. But Redknapp says he could try again, even though Beckham will be 36. Redknapp says “I could do, yeah. I love him, I love the way he plays.”
Football - Nigel de Jong back
in Netherlands squad
Midfielder Nigel de Jong’s international exile is over, four months after Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk dropped him for a tackle that broke the leg of Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa. De Jong has been named in the 22-man Dutch squad to play Austria in a friendly next Wednesday in Eindhoven. The combative Manchester City midfielder missed three internationals following the tackle on Ben Arfa. Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has not been included. Robben returned to Bundesliga play last month for the first time this season after recovering from a left hamstring injury. Van Marwijk also has called up uncapped FC Utrecht midfielder Kevin Strootman.
Rugby - Crucial test for France against Scotland in Six Nations
France begins its Six Nations title defence against Scotland today with confidence low and thoughts still drifting back to November’s humiliating home defeat to Australia. Marc Lievremont’s team achieved the Grand Slam last year, but then lost its way in the rest of the year, culminating in a 59-16 thrashing to the Wallabies which called into question Lievremont’s experimental selection policy. Lievremont has tried to reassert his authority by dropping veterans like center Yannick Jauzion and No. 8 Sebastien Chabal from his lineup to face the Scots at Stade de France. Flanker Julien Bonnaire says “we have a crucial match on Saturday for us and our fans” and “the pressure is really on.” But Scotland has not won in France since 1999.
Tennis - Sharapova leads Russia
against France in first round
Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will play Virginie Razzano today when Russia hosts France in the first round of the Fed Cup. In the opening singles match, two-time major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova will face Alize Cornet. In tomorrow’s reverse singles, Sharapova will play Cornet, while Kuznetsova will take on Razzano. In the doubles match, the Russian pair of Dinara Safina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will face the French duo of Julie Coin and Pauline Parmentier. The reverse singles and doubles nominations can be changed depending on the results of the previous matches. The winner will play either two-time defending champion Italy or Australia in the semifinals on 16-17 April.
Tennis - Schiavone to play Groth in Fed Cup
Italy’s Francesca Schiavone will play Australia’s Jarmila Groth in today’s opening singles of the Fed Cup World Group tie. Samantha Stosur will face Italian No. 2 Flavia Pennetta in today’s second singles before taking on Schiavone in tomorrow’s first reverse singles. Groth will play Pennetta. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anastasia Rodionova will partner veteran Rennae Stubbs in Sunday’s doubles match against Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani. Australia is making its first appearance in the eight-nation World Group since 2004, while Italy is the top seed in 2011.
Football - Popovic to be
assistant coach at Crystal Palace
Tony Popovic will become an assistant coach with his former English club Crystal Palace at the end of the current A-League season next month. Popovic played 123 matches for the London club between 2001 and 2006 and became club captain. He returned to Australia in 2007, joining Sydney where he was installed as captain. After 19 appearances, he retired and became an assistant coach with the club; a position he has held since. Sydney vice chairman Scott Barlow said Popovic “is highly regarded around the world and has been a great asset to our club.”
Football - Egypt suspends all football in the country
The Egyptian Football Association says the country's football league has been suspended until a "return of stability" to the Middle Eastern nation. Last week, the Egyptian association postponed the 16th round of the league because of the anti-government protests in Cairo and other cities. On Monday, the United States cancelled a friendly that have been scheduled for next Wednesday.
Yesterday’s results
BOV League Div III: Swieqi-Attard 2-2; St Venera-Qrendi 2-0