Football news

England striker Darren Bent looks set to miss out on Euro 2012 after suffering ruptured ankle ligaments.

Bent was injured when playing for Villa in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Wigan. The extent of the problem was confirmed by a leading ankle specialist in London.

The injury means he is unlikely to be available to play again until the end of May, with the Euro finals getting under way just over a week later in Poland and the Ukraine.

Villa said in a statement: “Bent faces up to 12 weeks on the sidelines having ruptured ankle ligaments in his left foot in the game against Wigan and he is unlikely to play again this season.”

Tardy De Rossi

Daniele de Rossi lost his place in the Roma team for Sunday’s match at Atalanta after turning up late for a players’ meeting.

De Rossi was in the stands during the 4-1 defeat in Bergamo amid reports he had arrived only a few minutes late for the morning’s talk with coach Luis Enrique.

“De Rossi was late and the rules are clear,” director of sport Walter Sabatini said.

“Luis Enrique would not forgive him for this lateness, as everyone has to respect the rules.

“The club agreed with this decision, because this is the Roma we want, even if it comes through unpopular decisions.”

‘Dirty work’ pleases Heynckes

Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes praised his players’ willingness to “do the dirty work” which paved the way for a 2-0 victory over Schalke.

Bayern produced the perfect response to their upset in Basle with two Franck Ribery goals enough to clinch a 2-0 win that moved them back into second place in the Bundesliga.

“It was a solid display. Our pressing was good and we created chances,” he said.

“It’s a result which shows us the way to go as a team. It has to work like clockwork. You also have to be prepared to do the dirty work, and all my players were up for it.”

Del Bosque pained by Torres decision

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has admitted he had no choice but to drop the off-form Fernando Torres for this week’s friendly against Venezuela after scoring just four times in all competitions this season.

Del Bosque admitted he left Torres out with a heavy heart.

“He is a lad we appreciate a great deal and it pains me to leave him out, but I wanted to be fair.

“His performances recently have been a bit irregular,” he said.

“It is always a problem when a striker is not finding the net, it makes it difficult for them. But there is a lot of time and plenty of chances for him to find his touch before the Euros.”

Balotelli breaches Prandelli’s code

Mario Balotelli was dropped from the Italy squad for tomorrow’s friendly against the United States in Genoa for breaking coach Cesare Prandelli’s ethical code.

Balotelli scored in Man. City’s 3-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday, but he had previously been suspended for four matches after a stamp on Tottenham’s Scott Parker in January.

“I don’t want players who commit reaction fouls and get sent off,” Prandelli said.

“He seems a little agitated to me. When I say we have to reach the Euros prepared, I mean I don’t want to see players who, at the first sign of difficulty, commit reaction fouls and get sent off, leaving their team-mates to struggle with 10 men.”

Bad luck Tom

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has expressed his disappointment after yet again missing out on an England debut.

Cleverley would almost certainly have made his senior bow against Holland in August, but the match was called off due to the London riots.

And Stuart Pearce picked him in his 25-man squad for tomorrow’s re-arranged en-counter with the Dutch after only one game back in the United side. But Cleverley is sidelined once more, this time by another ankle injury.

“Very disappointed not to be joining up with the England squad,” Cleverley said.

“And again, it isn’t a recurrence of the injury, it’s the other leg.”

Arshavin happy with Zenit move

Arsenal striker Andrei Arshavin, who is on loan at Zenit St Petersburg, has said the move back to Russia has been ideal for him in the build-up to the Euro Championship.

“I believe that it’s been the best possible decision for me – to return to my native town, to help my native club and myself,” the Russian skipper said.

“Zenit made me the right offer at the right time as I was having certain problems at Arsenal with too little match practice.”

The 30-year-old forward dismissed rumours that he could join another Russian side, the big-spending Anzhi, saying Zenit’s proposal was the only serious one he had received.