Herd ruled out of Socceroos friendly

Updated August 14, 2012 11:49:24

Chris Herd has failed in his battle to be fit for the Socceroos' friendly against Scotland on Thursday morning (AEST).

The verstaile Aston Villa player recently sustained a quadriceps strain and has been unable to recover in time for the match in Edinburgh.

Australia, which defeated Scotland 2-0 in their last meeting in 2000, is preparing for its World Cup qualifiers against Jordan and Iraq on September 11 and October 16 respectively.

The Scotland players could find themselves up against a couple of familiar players in the Australian line-up with Hearts player Ryan McGowan in line to make his debut for the Socceroos while former Motherwell and Celtic player Scott McDonald has been included in the 20-man squad.

The striker, scored 51 goals in 88 games for Celtic, but has yet to find the back of the net in 25 appearances for the national team.

McDonald hasn't been involved with the national side since 2010 but he will try to convince Socceroos coach Holger Osieck to give him a start in the country where he's done plenty of damage at club level.

"I've just been biding my time for that chance again and it's this one," the striker said.

"And hopefully I can take it with both hands.

"Obviously, I would like to score. It is every striker's job. I am no different, but there's no added pressure on me.

"Everybody keeps asking the question and it hasn't happened yet. Hopefully, this is the time for that to change with me."

Socceroos coach Osieck has left out Harry Kewell while ex-Everton midfielder Tim Cahill was allowed to stay with the New York Bulls.

Lucas Neill should captain the side despite not currently have a club.

Scotland manager Craig Levein had hoped to use the match to fine tune his side before these massive games but his squad has been hit by a number of high profile withdrawals.

West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans, Jamie Mackie, Phil Bardsley have all pulled out through injury while first team picks such as Darren Fletcher, Scott Brown, Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker are also out.

However, the Scotland manager has called up Blackburn striker David Goodwillie. Ross McCormack and Rangers player Ian Black, despite the midfielder now plying his trade in Scotland's third division.

ABC/AFP

Tags: socceroos, soccer, sport, australia, scotland, united-kingdom

First posted August 14, 2012 11:49:24

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Hodgson's woes mount as Cahill ruled out of Euro

Updated June 04, 2012 09:20:17

England defender Gary Cahill has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a double fracture of the jaw, the Football Association (FA) announced on Sunday.

The 26-year-old, who won the FA Cup and Champions League with Chelsea last season, suffered the injury when he was shoved in the back by Belgium's Dries Mertens during the first half of a 1-0 international friendly win at Wembley on Saturday and, as a result, collided with England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

He was sent for X-rays and now has become the third player to drop out of England manager Roy Hodgson's squad this week after midfielders Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard's hopes of playing in Poland and Ukraine were dashed by injury.

Liverpool's Martin Kelly was called up on Sunday as a replacement, with Hodgson having already omitted veteran Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand from his original squad.

An FA statement issued on Sunday said: "Gary Cahill has been withdrawn from England's Euro 2012 squad following the injury he suffered in the match against Belgium.

"The Chelsea defender has two fractures of his jaw, one either side. The England medical team have been in close contact overnight with Cahill's club doctors, who will treat him moving forward.

"Liverpool defender Martin Kelly will be called into the squad - subject to agreement from UEFA's medical team.

"Kelly trained with the England players last week and was part of the group that travelled to Norway (where England won 1-0 in Oslo to give Hodgson a win in his first game as England boss)."

Some good news on the injury front did arrive on Sunday when John Terry, Cahill's Chelsea and England central defensive colleague, was passed fit after suffering a hamstring problem against Belgium.

"John Terry has been scanned this morning and given the all-clear," the FA said. "He will be re-assessed on Tuesday when the team regroup."

Hodgson immediately feared the worst regarding Cahill's injury, saying after the match: "The referee gave him (Mertens) a yellow card, which he deserved.

"Unfortunately for us, the consequences might be a lot more than a yellow card because a fracture is a distinct possibility."

Now Hodgson has been proved right and he heads to his first major tournament as England manager minus several players from his original squad, with third-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy's finger injury on the second day of training starting a run of fitness problems.

Saturday's match was England's last before they begin their Euro 2012 Group D campaign against France in Donetsk on June 11 - a game in which Cahill looked likely to start alongside club-mate Terry.

But now the Chelsea captain, if fit, could be partnered by either Everton's Phil Jagielka or Manchester City's Joleon Lescott.

Manchester United's Phil Jones is the only other recognised defender in the squad, although he could be needed to bolster midfield in the absence of Lampard and Barry.

Kelly, who made his England debut off the bench against Norway, is another option, although the full-back is a novice at international level.

Hodgson insisted he had left 81-cap Ferdinand out of his original squad for "purely" footballing reasons and not because Terry is facing a July court case on allegations he racially abused Ferdinand's younger brother, Anton, during Chelsea's Premier League clash with QPR last October; accusations the Chelsea skipper denies.

Rio Ferdinand, a regular with Manchester United as they just failed to defend their Premier League title last season, reacted to his ongoing England exile by asking his Twitter followers: "What reasons?????!!!"

As well as Terry, England also have concerns over Danny Welbeck, who scored against Belgium, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, england, united-kingdom

First posted June 04, 2012 09:20:17

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Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football

Jim Dent, author of the New York Times bestselling The Junction Boys, returns with his most powerful story of human courage and determination.

More than a century ago, a school was constructed in Fort Worth, Texas, for the purpose of housing and educating the orphans of Texas Freemasons. It was a humble project that for years existed quietly on a hillside east of town. Life at the Masonic Home was about to change, though, with the arrival of a lean, bespectacled coach by the name of Rusty Russell. Here was a man who could bring rain in the midst of a drought. Here was a man who, in virtually no time at all, brought the orphans' story into the homes of millions of Americans.
      In the 1930s and 1940s, there was nothing bigger in Texas high school football than the Masonic Home Mighty Mites--a group of orphans bound together by hardship and death. These youngsters, in spite of being outweighed by at least thirty pounds per man, were the toughest football team around. They began with nothing--not even a football--yet in a few years were playing for the state championship on the highest level of Texas football. This is a winning tribute to a courageous band of underdogs from a time when America desperately needed fresh hope and big dreams.
      The Mighty Mites remain a notable moment in the long history of American sports. Just as significant is the depth of the inspirational message. This is a profound lesson in fighting back and clinging to faith. The real winners in Texas high school football were not the kids from the biggest schools, or the ones wearing the most expensive uniforms. They were the scrawny kids from a tiny orphanage who wore scarred helmets and faded jerseys that did not match, kids coached by a devoted man who lived on peanuts and drove them around in a smoke-belching old truck.
      In writing a story of unforgettable characters and great football, Jim Dent has come forward to reclaim his place as one of the top sports authors in America today.
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