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divimg alt=”" src=”http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/87926?ns=guardianpageName=Football%3A+Campbell+pushes+his+way+into+Pearce%27s+planningch=Footballc3=The+Guardianc4=England+football+team%2CCzech+Republic+football+team%2CFootball%2CSportc5=Football+World+Cup%2CNot+commercially+usefulc6=Stuart+Jamesc7=2008_11_19c8=1120079c9=articlec10=GUc11=Footballc12=Englandc13=c14=h2=GU%2FFootball%2FEngland” width=”1″ height=”1″ //divpThe preparations for next summer’s European Championships started last night, according to Stuart Pearce, and this was a performance that suggested everything is going to plan. Having used the occasion as an opportunity to experiment, the England Under-21 manager had good reason to be satisfied with the result as an under-strength line-up overcame a combative Czech Republic side through goals from the in-form Fraizer Campbell and Aston Villa’s Craig Gardner./ppHow many of these players appear in Sweden in June remains to be seen but Pearce was able to take encouragement from the fact that he has such competition for places. No one was more impressive than Campbell, with the 21-year-old striker, who has scored three times in his last two games on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, registering his first international goal and generally making life as uncomfortable as possible for the Czech Republic./pp”I thought he played well,” said Pearce. “He’s quick, darts in behind and is a constant threat. If he carries on the way he is, Manchester United and Tottenham will have a player on their hands.” Pearce also singled out the contribution of the Wolverhampton Wanderers central defender Richard Stearman, the sole debutant in the England starting line-up on a night when an inexperienced side extended the manager’s run to one defeat in 22 matches./pp”It took us an hour to knock them off,” added Pearce, whose goalkeeper, Peterborough’s Joe Lewis, was taken off on a stretcher in the first half with his ankle heavily strapped. “We probably needed to show a touch more devilment and grab the game by the scruff of the neck early on. But we wanted to get a win, keep a clean sheet and for three or four players to come in and do well and I think I got that out of this performance.”/ppCampbell capitalised on Jan Halama’s weak header before lobbing Jakub Divis, Gardner’s 25-yard free-kick doubled England’s lead and a third should have followed two minutes later but Jamie O’Hara telegraphed his intentions with a weak penalty after Jakub Heidenreich bundled over Campbell. There should have been another England spot-kick within seconds after the same two players clashed but Campbell was harshly booked for diving./pdiv style=”float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;”ullia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/england”England/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/czechrepublic”Czech Republic/a/li/ul/divdiv class=”guRssAdvert”a href=”http://ads.guardian.co.uk/click.ng/richmedia=yessite=Footballcountry=nldspacedesc=rsssystem=rsstransactionID=1227057980222111901285839760″img src=”http://ads.guardian.co.uk/image.ng/richmedia=yessite=Footballcountry=nldspacedesc=rsssystem=rsstransactionID=1227057980222111901285839760″ border=”0″ //a/diva href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk”guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href=”http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html”Terms Conditions/a | a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html”More Feeds/a

Original post by Stuart James

divimg alt=”" src=”http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/73651?ns=guardianpageName=Football%3A+Walcott+injury+leaves+Capello+under+fresh+firech=Footballc3=The+Guardianc4=England+football+team%2CGermany+%28Football+team%29%2CTheo+Walcott%2CFootball%2CSportc5=Football+World+Cup%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CPremier+Leaguec6=Dominic+Fifieldc7=2008_11_19c8=1120005c9=articlec10=GUc11=Footballc12=Englandc13=c14=h2=GU%2FFootball%2FEngland” width=”1″ height=”1″ //divpTheo Walcott has become the latest casualty of a friendly international already denounced as meaningless by some Premier League managers after the Arsenal winger dislocated his right shoulder in training last night. The youngster will play no part against Germany tonight and, if the injury requires surgery, will face up to 10 weeks out of the game./ppThe teenager fell awkwardly under challenge from Scott Parker on a sodden pitch and, although he was initially able to continue with the practice session, the shoulder popped out of its joint shortly afterwards. He was helped to the touchline and eventually carried from the arena on a stretcher with England’s medical staff holding the damaged arm above his head. The shoulder was put back into place at a local hospital and a decision will be made this morning as to when the winger can travel home./ppAlso today a specialist will assess the shoulder to decide whether an operation is required. Even if it is not, Walcott can expect to be out for a minimum of three weeks. Arsenal’s medical staff were advised of the injury soon after the incident, with the Football Association painfully aware of the furore whipped up this week over the issue of club versus country commitments. “Our priority is Theo and making him as comfortable as possible before he returns to England,” said the head coach, Fabio Capello. “We’re all very disappointed but the most important thing is for Theo to travel home and make a quick recovery.”/ppWalcott missed the Champions League tie against Fenerbahce after injuring his left shoulder against Stoke earlier this month. He underwent corrective surgery in the summer of 2007 aimed at fixing a hereditary condition that weakened the ligaments in his arm, though now the injury has afflicted his right side. England will most likely call upon Aston Villa’s Ashley Young tonight, though the implications of Walcott’s potentially lengthy absence are more serious for Arsenal./ppThe 19-year-old has featured in every Premier League game for Arsenal this season and the injury will infuriate Arsène Wenger. The Frenchman had already made clear his frustration at the timing of this international friendly window - his dissatisfaction echoed by other leading top-flight managers - and confirmation that one of the division’s brightest stars has been injured ahead of the friendly will do little to repair the already strained relationship between Capello and the clubs./ppJust an hour before Walcott suffered the dislocation, the national coach had been attempting to reassert his authority over disgruntled Premier League managers by insisting any player who features for his club on the weekend before an international fixture will not be permitted to withdraw from his squad through injury until checked by his own medical staff./ppThat policy saw Steven Gerrard, one of possibly eight first-choice players absent this evening, travel to Watford to be evaluated by England’s medical staff on Sunday, having already been ruled out by Liverpool with a groin injury sustained at Bolton on Saturday. Rafael Benítez had been unimpressed at his captain having to make a 400-mile round trip when he might have been recuperating but Capello will insist on his players doing the same in future./pp”This will be the rule for next time,” said the Italian. “Always the England doctor will check the physical condition of the players. We respect the doctors of the [club] teams but the rules will be to check the condition of the players. I spoke privately with Rafael Benítez. When a player plays on a Saturday or Sunday and we have a game, we will check whether or not it is possible for them to recover for our match. This is my way of doing things, a way to avoid arguments or misunderstandings. It is our new protocol.”/pdiv style=”float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;”ullia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/england”England/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/germany”Germany/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/theo-walcott”Theo Walcott/a/li/ul/divdiv class=”guRssAdvert”a href=”http://ads.guardian.co.uk/click.ng/richmedia=yessite=Footballcountry=nldspacedesc=rsssystem=rsstransactionID=1227057980268111901285839760″img src=”http://ads.guardian.co.uk/image.ng/richmedia=yessite=Footballcountry=nldspacedesc=rsssystem=rsstransactionID=1227057980268111901285839760″ border=”0″ //a/diva href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk”guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href=”http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html”Terms Conditions/a | a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html”More Feeds/a

Original post by Dominic Fifield

divimg alt=”" src=”http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/30380?ns=guardianpageName=Football%3A+Pavlyuchenko+double+sinks+ragged+Liverpoolch=Footballc3=The+Guardianc4=Carling+Cup%2CTottenham+Hotspur+%28Football%29%2CLiverpool+FC+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSportc5=Not+commercially+useful%2CPremier+Leaguec6=Dominic+Fifieldc7=2008_11_12c8=1116992c9=articlec10=GUc11=Footballc12=Carling+Cupc13=c14=h2=GU%2FFootball%2FCarling+Cup” width=”1″ height=”1″ //divpHarry Redknapp had feared a backlash from Liverpool last night. Instead, he was treated to a rout. Tottenham Hotspur maintain their grip on this trophy and progress to the quarter-finals after a rumbustious and thrillingly entertaining victory here delivered in a style that sums up Redknapp’s reign to date. Spurs, shaky at the back but glorious going forward, remain a club who can do no wrong under new management. /ppThey have now scored 18 times in his six matches in charge, five of which have been won. Liverpool’s first-team had been beaten somewhat fortuitously in the league 11 days previously, but their reserves were dismantled here. Tottenham may remain fragile at the back, and might have conceded a late penalty to fray nerves only for Gareth Bale’s clear trip on Philipp Degen to go unpunished, but their only real concern was a head injury sustained by their goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, which necessitated his departure on a stretcher. The Brazilian was apparently lucid enough to watch the final moments from the dressing room, with this an attacking performance to savour./ppRafael Beniacute;tez had included Fernando Torres for his first club start since early October. The Spaniard’s ripped hamstring has healed in the interim yet, with their talismanic striker’s rustiness painfully clear, Liverpool lacked the bite to threaten coherently while the game remained in the balance. For a while it seemed as if Spurs might prove just as gummy yet Redknapp has transformed this club and the visitors were not to escape unscathed./ppNot even the Spurs manager could have anticipated Liverpool’s implosion in the seven minutes leading up to half-time. The visitors’ fragility at the back was staggering, with Jamie Carragher watching aghast among the substitutes and Steven Gerrard presumably moved to switch off his television set back home on Merseyside. Andrea Dossena and Philip Degen were perplexed at full-back. The goalkeeper, Diego Cavalieri, panicked as confidence drained around him and Daniel Agger and a leggy Sami Hyypia were helpless to contain those pouring at them./ppThe trio of goals plundered by Spurs were too simple for comfort. Fraizer Campbell, permitted a rare start, skipped to the by-line away from Hyypia with his pull-back dispatched emphatically by Roman Pavlyuchenko, ignored by Agger in the middle. Jamie O’Hara had already been denied a second by Cavalieri’s block by the time the midfielder’s optimistic cross from the left had the goalkeeper and Dossena colliding, the ball running simply on for Campbell to tap into an empty net./ppLiverpool had disintegrated as a defensive unit with Beniacute;tez apoplectic at the ineptitude on show as his team of strangers groped desperately in the dark. They were not permitted a respite, O’Hara and Aaron Lennon combining for the winger’s cross to loop over a grounded Agger for Campbell to nod in. The last time the Merseysiders had trailed by this margin at the interval was that fateful night in Istanbul three years ago. With such vulnerability on show, there seemed little prospect of a repeat of that famous second half./ppThe first riposte against Milan in the Champions League final had been Gerrard’s header to chip at the deficit and, some four minutes into the second period here, Damien Plessis hinted at revival by nodding beyond a hapless Gomes. Those crammed into the corner behind that goal clung to renewed hope, if only briefly. So befuddled was this Liverpool back-line that Didier Zokora, normally a becalmed defensive shield, was permitted to burst into the area as opponents crumpled around him. His cross flicked off Hyypia and was tapped in by Pavlyuchenko. /ppTorres’ withdrawal for Emiliano Insua suggested Beniacute;tez was waving the white flag though Hyypia, leaping between Pavlyuchenko and Gomes, promptly nodded Ryan Babel’s corner down and in to reduce the deficit. Indeed, with Spurs’ goalkeeper still prone to aberration there remained the possibility of a comeback. Yet Gomes was not to see out the night. Degen, attempting to convert from close range, collided with the Brazilian and appeared to knock him cold with his trailing right foot. /ppThe 27-year-old was attended by his team-mate, Vedran Corluka, whose intervention appeared to prevent him from swallowing his tongue. Gomes was taken from the field in a stretcher, wearing an oxygen mask and with the paramedics present expressing obvious concern./pdiv style=”float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;”ullia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/carlingcup”Carling Cup/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenhamhotspur”Tottenham Hotspur/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool”Liverpool/a/li/ul/diva href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk”guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href=”http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html”Terms Conditions/a | a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html”More Feeds/a

Original post by Dominic Fifield

divimg alt=”" src=”http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.15.1/90057?ns=guardianpageName=Football%3A+Pavlyuchenko+and+Campbell+repeat+dose+of+White+Hart+pain+for+Ben%C3%ADtezch=Footballc3=The+Guardianc4=Carling+Cup%2CTottenham+Hotspur+%28Football%29%2CLiverpool+FC+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSportc5=Not+commercially+useful%2CPremier+Leaguec6=Dominic+Fifieldc7=2008_11_13c8=1116992c9=articlec10=GUc11=Footballc12=Carling+Cupc13=c14=h2=GU%2FFootball%2FCarling+Cup” width=”1″ height=”1″ //divpHarry Redknapp had feared a backlash from Liverpool last night. Instead, he was treated to a rout. Tottenham Hotspur maintained their grip on this trophy after a thrillingly entertaining victory delivered in a style that sums up Redknapp’s reign to date. Spurs, shaky at the back but glorious going forward, can do no wrong under their new manager./ppThey have now scored 18 times in his six matches in charge, five of which have been won. “I should get out now,” said Redknapp as he contemplated the best start by a Spurs manager in 110 years. “I’ve clearly taken them as far as I can.”/ppAs an attacking force, they are unrecognisable from the mishmash that appeared to be ambling towards ignominy under Juande Ramos. Liverpool’s first team had been beaten somewhat fortuitously in the Premier League 11 days previously. A virtual second string was dismantled here./ppOnly Spurs’ fragility at the back offered the visitors any hope, yet once Heurelho Gomes had departed on a stretcher, even that soft underbelly felt stiffened. The Brazilian goalkeeper was accidentally kicked in the mouth by Philipp Degen as the pair challenged for a loose ball and needed Vedran Corluka’s swift reaction to prevent him swallowing his tongue. He received oxygen and was lucid enough to watch the latter stages - “He’ll probably go out for a Chinese later,” said Redknapp - from the dressing room as Degen appeared to be tripped by Gareth Bale’s lunge. The referee, Mike Riley, waved away the penalty appeal and after that Spurs were spared any nerves./ppLiverpool did not deserve to muster a comeback to rival the one on that celebrated night in Istanbul three years ago. Their defending in the seven minutes leading up to the interval was shambolic, Jamie Carragher watching aghast among the substitutes and Steven Gerrard, presumably, switching off the television back home on Merseyside. Andrea Dossena and Degen were perplexed at full-back. The goalkeeper, Diego Cavalieri, panicked. Daniel Agger, a shadow of the player who burst on to the Premier League two years ago, and a leggy Sami Hyypia were helpless to contain those pouring at them./ppThe three goals in the frenzy before the interval were far too simple for comfort. Fraizer Campbell, revelling in the absence of Darren Bent, skipped to the byline, away from Hyypia, and his pull-back was dispatched emphatically by Roman Pavlyuchenko, ignored by Agger in the middle. Jamie O’Hara had already been denied by Cavalieri’s block by the time the midfielder’s optimistic cross from the left had the goalkeeper and Dossena colliding, the ball running on for Campbell to tap into an empty net./ppThe Manchester United loanee’s performance was excellent, surely impressing the England manager, Fabio Capello, in the stands. “You could see why Sir Alex [Ferguson] turned down a £7m bid from Hull for him in the summer,” said Redknapp./ppYet Liverpool had long since disintegrated as a defensive unit, leaving Rafael Benítez apoplectic at the ineptitude on show as his team of strangers groped desperately in the dark./ppThey were not permitted respite, O’Hara and Aaron Lennon combining for the winger’s cross to loop over a grounded Agger for Campbell to nod in the third. It summed up the visitors’ efforts that Didier Zokora, normally a becalmed defensive shield, was permitted to burst into the area seven minutes after the interval. The Ivorian’s cross flicked off Hyypia and was tapped home by the unmarked Pavlyuchenko at the far post./pp”We were really poor,” said Benítez, whose only consolation was the 56-minute display of a rusty Fernando Torres which will have boosted his match fitness after his hamstring problems. “We had a lot of quality in that team and wanted to win. But you have to think about priorities. The Champions League and the Premier League are the priorities. After that, the FA Cup.”/ppLes Ferdinand begins work at Spurs this week, coaching strikers. The Merseysiders can be thankful his impact has yet to be felt, but there is work to be done at the other end. Damien Plessis and Hyypia were both allowed free headers from Ryan Babel corners to offer brief hope./ppSpurs may still languish perilously close to the Premier League’s foot, but they are upwardly mobile. Everything Redknapp touches at present turns to gold./pdiv style=”float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;”ullia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/carlingcup”Carling Cup/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenhamhotspur”Tottenham Hotspur/a/lilia href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool”Liverpool/a/li/ul/diva href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk”guardian.co.uk/a copy; Guardian News Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our a href=”http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html”Terms Conditions/a | a href=”http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds/1,,1309488,00.html”More Feeds/a

Original post by Dominic Fifield

Arsène Wenger finally allowed anger which has been simmering since the weekend to boil over today when he accused Stoke of intentionally injuring Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor during his side’s 2-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

Walcott left the game on a stretcher after injuring his shoulder during a challenge from Stoke’s Rory Delap, while Adebayor limped off with an ankle problem following a tackle by Ryan Shawcross.

Both will miss tomorrow’s Champions League game against Fenerbahce at the Emirates Stadium, though Walcott remains hopeful of returning in time for Saturday’s Premier League game against Manchester United. The right-back Bacary Sagna, who also picked up an ankle injury against Stoke, may yet play in tomorrow’s match.

“I read that my team were not brave,” said Wenger today when asked about the defeat at Stoke. “All I can say is they are brave and, for me, you need to have more courage to play football when you know that someone is tackling you from behind without any intention to play the ball.

“It happened at the weekend. Do you think Delap tried to play the ball when he tackled Walcott? Or that Shawcross tried to play the ball when he tackled Adebayor off the pitch? All the players have been injured deliberately. I am not ready to listen to things that are completely untrue and make people who are cowards, for me, look brave.”

This is not the first time Wenger has accused opponents of deliberately injuring his players. Last season he argued that Birmingham defender Martin Taylor “should never play football again” after his reckless challenge left Eduardo with a broken leg. Despite later softening that stance, Wenger made it clear today he had not forgotten that, or a number of other “deliberate” fouls committed against his team.

“Do you want me to tell you the players we have lost here? (Abou) Diaby, deliberate foul from behind; (Tomas) Rosicky, deliberate foul; Eduardo, deliberate foul. Now we lose Walcott, deliberate foul, and we have lost Sagna - deliberate foul on him. There is only one intention when he is tackled and that is the ankle. And you want me on top of that to sit here and say, ‘Yes, sorry we are not brave’?”

Arsenal now sit six points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea. They have already lost three times in the league this season - away to Stoke and Fulham and at home against Hull - and threw away a two-goal lead in the final minute when they drew 4-4 with Tottenham last Wednesday.

“It is the start of November and we have plenty of quality,” said Wenger, shrugging of his side’s indifferent form. “The same people who say we are not good, let them say it in three weeks when we are the best.”

Wenger has fewer worries in the Champions League: his side are top of Group G having beaten Fenerbahce 5-2 and Porto 4-0 in their last two games. Wenger said he was keen to wrap up qualification as quickly as possible. “Once you qualify you can be completely focused,” he said, “and if needed, rest some players in the Champions League.”

The Arsenal captain William Gallas also misses out tomorrow but could return from his hamstring injury in time for the United game. Emmanuel Eboue, meanwhile, looks likely to miss both games with a knee problem.

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Original post by Paolo Bandini