Internationals Assessed For Injury

Tim Cahill played all but the last few minutes in Australia's hard fought 1-0 win over Bahrain. He was substituted late on and will be assessed before the Monday's game at Wigan. Pienaar and Fellaini who pulled out of games with their country will also be looked at before they are given the go ahead to play. Lescott will have the splinters removed after spending the night on the bench in England's 2-1 win over Germany, but should be OK.

Tim says: "Years ago an Australian team would probably walk away from here losing 1-0. I think that's the rub of the green we have needed. The boys did ever so well coming here, showing commitment, playing for their country, and finally we get that luck which the Australian public can go, well it wasn't the best performance, but still three points." (20/11/08)

England Wins For Vaughan & Rodwell

Vaughany was in the winning England U21's side which won 2-0 against the Czech Republic. He played well and had a couple of chances to score. He was taken off with minutes to go. No injury problems. Jack Rodwell played the full 90 minutes for England U19's in a 1-0 over Germany. (19/11/08)

Confident With Capello

Roger says: "He has great experience obviously, and personally for me it's great to be working with someone like him. The experience he and his coaching staff have from a defending point of view is great for me to have. Confidence is a massive thing in football and the year is definitely ending on a high anyway, especially with four wins from four in the qualifying.

It's massive between the two nations and we are great rivals in all sports, but in football even more so. They'll be looking to get one over us as much as we are to do the same. I think any game that you're involved in for your country is massive, but a fixture like this is one that you probably look forward to more than most. I'm excited to be involved in this game, I'm raring to go if the manager needs me. The last time I was one of the less experienced players, so this time I'm a bit more experienced than some of the lads and it's quite a strange feeling. It's a great squad and everyone helps each other out and we're all pushing in the same direction." (19/11/08) Video on The FA.com

Peanuts Flys To Africa

Steven Pienaar is in the South Africa squad to play a friendly with Cameroon. The game is to be played on Wednesday 19th November 2008. The midfield man will fly home after the game on Sunday. (14/11/08)

Yobo Out Of Nigerian Squad

Nigerian skipper Joseph Yobo has pulled out of the squad to play Colombia next Wednesday, as he has a calf problem that needs rest between weekly games. He hopes to play for Everton against Boro on Sunday but the injury prevents him playing two games in a week.

Joe says: “I called the coach and we spoke about it and he was very understanding. The club have sent a letter to the Nigerian Football Federation. I was hoping to go for the game but I got a calf injury against Bolton and didn’t train for about two days before our last game and it was coming back again after the game so I have been advised to rest it.” (13/11/08)

Sorry

After saying sorry to his Belgium team mates for the cock up that led to a goal in the 2-1 defeat against Spain, Maro has now said sorry to the fans in the press.

Maro says: "I have made mistakes in the past, but rarely with such heavy consequences. I've offered my apologies to the entire group of players and now I would also like to do that through the newspaper in front of the whole country. I'm really not good. Some team-mates were still trying to recover my fault, but one slipped. Regrettably, we played at a high level and took the lead with excellent football. Then something happens. We deserved better because we went for the three points from the first whistle." (17/10/08)

World Cup Blues

Maro Fellaini completed another 90 minutes for Belgium in the 2-1 defeat against Spain. Joleon Lescott had to settle for a place on the bench, in England's 3-1 win at Belarus. Having already qualified USA coach rested Tim Howard in the 2-1 defeat against Trinidad & Tobago. Segundo Castillo's Ecuador were beaten 3-1 by Venezuela to dent their qualifying chances. (16/10/08)

Goal for Cahill

Tim Cahill scored Australia's first goal in a 4-0 win over Qatar in Brisbane today. That's 2 wins out of 2 for Australia who top their group. Tim can take his time coming back to Finch farm as he is suspended and won't be able to play against Arsenal on Saturday. (15/10/08)

Lescott In England Squad

Joleon Lescott has kept his England place for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus this week. (06/10/08)

Cahill Keeps His Hand In

As expected Tim is included in the Australia squad for the World Cup qualifier against Qatar on 15th October 2008. Although he is flying all around the world it will give him a competitive game to keep him in trim for his comeback from suspension. (01/10/09)

Nuno Valente Retires From International Football

Despite being called into the Portuguese provisional squad for the 2010 World Cup, Nuno, at 34 thinks it's time to concentrate on his club football. He played 32 times for his country.

Nuno says: “I’ve been very pleased to receive this provisional call-up for the 2010 South African World Cup. Nevertheless, I feel I’ve done my job but I’m not capable of representing my country as a player should.” (22/09/08)

Socceroos Want Cahill For Qatar Game

Socceroos national coach Verbeek is hopeful Tim can keep fit and play a part for Australia in the World Cup qualifier against Qatar on 15th October 2008.

World Cup Qualifiers

Segundo Castillo sporting a new nifty hair cut played the full 90 minutes for Ecuador in their 0-0 draw away to Uruguay. He's expected back tomorrow from South America. Lars Jacobsen came off will a suspected dislocated shoulder in Denmark's 3-2 win over Portugal. He's probably out for a long time. Tim Howard kept a clean sheet in the USA 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago. This win keeps the USA on track to qualify. Maro Fellaini played the full 90 in a tough 0-0 draw for Belgium in Turkey. Joleon Lescott never made the benck for England. (11/09/08)

Amo Praise For Yak

Nigeria won 1-0 in their World Cup game against South Africa, leaving them way out on top of the group with 5 wins from 5 games. Former Everton star Daniel Amokachi and now on the Nigerian coaching staff was quick to praise the Yak as captain.

Amo says: "He has been great with the players this week and he certainly commands respect within the group. He is a calm individual, but he has an air about him that the others really like. The coaching staff like working with him as well." (07/09/08)

International Round Up

Everton's record signing Maro Fellaini played the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 win over Estonia in Liege. Belgium lead group 5 with Spain and Turkey.

Segundo Castillo's Ecuador defeated Bolivia 3-1 in the South American group. This keeps them in with a chance of qualifying.

In group 1 Lars Jacobsen played the full 90 minutes for Denmark in a 0-0 draw in Hungary. (07/09/08)

Tim says: "I think having that ability to say 'This is who I am, this is what I'm about, love it or leave it,' gave me the opportunity to be more confident on the field. It showed with my Everton teammates and how they approached me and how I approached the game. I went to Everton with a renewed sense of confidence and outlook on the future."

"Being in MLS helped me start my career and I learned a lot of things that a young professional needs to know, but coming to England has definitely given me a different mentality. It has given me an edge because it is so competitive, even on a daily basis. There are so many aspects that helped me to realize how I need to play on the field or how I need to act off of it. When I come into the national team now, I try to bring that mentality along with me. When I started playing for the U.S., I was a younger player trying to go abroad, and now I'm an older player seeing the younger guys do the same thing. It's interesting to see it happening and it is definitely good for our national team."

You look around the team and, though Beas [DaMarcus Beasley] and Landon [Donovan] have been around for awhile, you get guys like Carlos [Bocanegra], Oguchi Oyewu, and myself who have all been thrust into a veteran-type role with this cycle starting. For me it has been kind of a natural progression. I'm 29 now and I'm getting older. I've gained more and more experience throughout my career, so being a leader just seems pretty natural." (07/09/08)

Captain Yak

The Yak will captain Nigeria on Saturday in their 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa.

Team official Peterside Idah says: "In the absence of team skipper Nwankwo Kanu and Joseph Yobo, Yakubu is the most experienced player in the squad and so he will lead the team out on Saturday."

Yak says: “Let’s not talk about the players who are not here. We are professionals and we‘re here to compete. This is a strong team with good players and, of course, we believe we can beat South Africa. We have a good record against them and we want to maintain it.” (05/09/08)

Yobo Out Of Nigeria Squad

Joe joins Steven Pienaar on the injured list for the World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa. Just the Yak in the squad, with Big Vic left out after his Olympic success.

Yobo says: "I have been told to rest the leg to prevent a terrible outcome because I have been forcing it. The Nigeria Football Federation has been notified already and I must confess it hurts me to even train with it. I have been taking pain-killers and it's not great for the body." (03/09/08)

Lescott England Call Up

Roger has been called into the England squad for this week's World Cup qualifying games. England play Andorra in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium at 7.00pm on Saturday evening and then travel to Zagreb for their second qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, 10th September at 8.00pm. (31/08/08)

Going For Gold

Big Vic and his Nigeria side swept aside The Ivory Coast in the Quarter Finals to set up a Semi Final clash with Belgium in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It means that Big Vic won't be home for at least another week, so if he has stayed this long, lets hope he bring home the Gold to show his Blues team mates, and get them in the mood for some trophies themselves.

Big Vic says: "Everyone’s buzzing, we don’t think we can get beat by anyone. It’s a bit dangerous, but I’m confident. I wouldn’t say there’s pressure, but there’s hope, there’s hope from our country and other African countries hoping that we can go and make Africa proud. It would be nice if an African team can win it, but there are other teams in this tournament, South Americans as well, so it’s going to be tough, really tough." (18/08/08)

Knee Injury

Vic is looking to emulate former Everton star Daniel Amokachi in winning Olympic gold, but a knee injury could hold him back. More concerning for Evertonians is how serious it is.

Vic says: "I was sure that I would feature in upcoming crucial games after overcoming the injury worries before our first match. Then, it was like hell for me because when I tried to sprint, I felt a sharp pain in my kneecap. But I have been getting quality treatment to give myself the best chance at the Games. It’s a lot better than when I first did it and I can jog now. So hopefully I will not feel it again. I have been a great admirer of the likes of Kanu, Daniel Amokachi and Celestine Babayaro after their exploits at the Atlanta 96 Games and I am preparing myself to join their league.” (15/07/08)

Vic Scores Olympic Winner

Vic came off the bench to score the winner as Nigeria beat Japan 2-1 today in their men's Olympic football Group B clash. (10/08/08)