England manager Roy Hodgson could have become Northern Ireland coach in 2007, former Irish FA president Jim Boyce revealed yesterday.
Hodgson was a contender to replace Lawrie Sanchez five years ago but was ruled out by his commitment to Finland.
“When Lawrie Sanchez resigned there was a possibility that Roy could have ended up as Northern Ireland manager,” Boyce said.
“At that time he was coach of Finland and obviously he had to finish his contract there.
“But the rest is history, so now he’s manager of England and I think probably on a much higher salary than he would have got with Northern Ireland!”
‘No malice’ in Cahill push
Belgium’s Dries Mertens insists there was “no malice” in the challenge which has ended England defender Gary Cahill’s hopes of playing in Euro 2012.
The incident resulted in Cahill suffering a double fracture of the jaw and he now joins John Ruddy, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry in being ruled out of the original squad.
Mertens, who was yellow-carded, said: “It was an accident. It was unintentional.
“He blocked me off and hit his head (on Hart’s shoulder). But there was no malice in what I did.
“Absolutely, I feel for him. If that was me in his place, getting injured like that a week before the Euros, I’d feel so bad.”
Bellamy says he’s in Team GB
Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy has revealed he will be in the Great Britain squad for the Olympics, according to reports.
Along with the likes of fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs and England’s David Beckham, 32-year-old Bellamy has been seen as one of the favourites to take one of three over-age slots in Stuart Pearce’s squad.
He said: “I am in the Olympic squad – but I was supposed to keep it quiet. It’s a different challenge. I had a difficult season with Liverpool but the Olympics is a one-off.”
Deportivo, Celta back in La Liga
Deportivo La Coruna and Celta Vigo confirmed their return to the top flight after finishing first and second respectively in the Spanish second division.
Valladolid, formerly of La Liga, are in the play-offs alongside Alcorcon, Hercules Alicante and Cordoba to determine the third promoted club.
Deportivo, who had assured the championship and promotion before the final match of the season, return to the top flight only a year after being relegated.
Celta Vigo’s scoreless draw with Cordoba on the final day of the season was also enough for the Galicians to seal their return.
Torino keen to keep Ogbonna
Torino will resist temptation to sell Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna this summer, according to club president Urbano Cairo.
The 24-year-old, who made 36 league appearances to help the Granata outfit win promotion to Serie A, is a reported target for Milan, Inter and Roma.
“With regards to Ogbonna’s future, my only wish is to keep the player,” Cairo said.
“I am very proud to see a Torino player in the national team. Angelo is a great lad.
“We hope he will have a great European Championship.”
Ogbonna is under contract with Torino until June 2016.
Mexicans blank Brazil in Texas
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Giovanni Dos Santos scored to give Mexico a 2-0 victory over Brazil in a friendly late Sunday.
Dos Santos opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Hernandez converted from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute to give the Mexicans victory before 84,519 spectators at the home stadium of American football’s Dallas Cowboys.
Brazil are testing younger talent ahead of next month’s start of the London Olympics while Mexico will begin qualifying matches on Friday for the 2014 World Cup that the Brazilians will host.
Spain in slim 1-0 win over China
Spain rounded off their preparations for Euro 2012 with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over China late Sunday.
Manchester City striker David Silva grabbed the winning goal with six minutes remaining as a well-organised Chinese side proved difficult to break down.
With several Spanish players looking to press claims for a place in Vicente Del Bosque’s side, it was Santi Cazorla, Fernando Torres and Silva who most caught the eye.
The visitors, coached by former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho, looked more dangerous at first and put up a performance that belied their FIFA ranking of 66.