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Sven Goran Erikkson
"I'm very pleased that the pitch at the training ground is to be completely re-laid," said Sven.

"When I visited Germany a few weeks ago, it was clear the pitch needed extensive work. That?s why it was important we had an inspection today involving Wembley groundsman Steve Welch with Tord Grip.

"I'm told the work will start at the beginning of May to ensure we have a first-class pitch for our first training session on June 6.

"The training pitch is the equivalent of the players home for the duration of the World Cup and it is vital it is of the highest standard."

Betfred teams up with Wembley Stadium
Betfred has been appointed as Wembley Stadium's Official Bookmaker. The alliance starts with immediate effect and will run until 2010. The deal will give Betfred exclusive rights of association with Wembley Stadium in the betting sector as well as a permanent presence in the Stadium itself through their operation of betting facilities at the venue.

Betfred, the world's largest independent bookmaker, will operate all betting units within the new Stadium and will ensure that first time punters as well as the more experienced gamblers have access to first class betting facilities at the Stadium's major sporting events.

Betfred will provide a betting service for all 90,000 fans, including those in the Club Wembley ten year seats and executive boxes.

Wembley Stadium is another major sponsorship investment for Betfred and underlines the bookmaker's huge passion for sport. Betfred, which is listed in the UK's top 100 fastest growing privately owned companies,* is used to backing winners. Founder and Chairman of Betfred, Fred Done said:

"This collaboration is a real winner - it brings together the world's largest independent bookmaker with the world's greatest Stadium. As both a Manchester United and England fan I've been very lucky in terms of the number of opportunities I've had to visit Wembley and the place holds many special memories for me. To be part of the new Wembley's exciting future and to be able to provide all visitors to the Stadium with the opportunity to bet is very exciting and a real privilege.

The new Stadium will not just have an awesome atmosphere and world-class events but it will also have first-class facilities - "we are delighted that we will be providing some of these facilities and will be part of making a trip to Wembley Stadium very special."

To celebrate the announcement Fred and Wembley National Stadium Limited will be joined on-site at Wembley this morning by 1966 World Cup heroes - Alan Ball, Gordon Banks and Martin Peters who will be visiting the new Stadium for the first time.

Michael Cunnah, Chief Executive of Wembley National Stadium Limited said: "We are delighted to have Betfred on board as our Official Bookmaker and we are looking forward to working with them on match days. We are creating the greatest Stadium in the world and want our customers to have the best match day experience possible. Sports fans love to speculate on the results of the big events and thanks to Betfred we can offer them a fantastic betting service."

Clive Richards, Wembley Stadium's Head of Sponsorship welcomed Betfred to the Stadium's family of sponsors. He said: "Betfred's recent growth, its aspirations for future success and the personality and passion that Fred brings to the brand makes Betfred a very attractive sponsor for the Stadium. We are confident that Betfred's commitment to customer service will deliver an enhanced Stadium experience for the sporting fans that come to watch matches at Wembley."

Betfred will be joining a number of other major brands within the Stadium's family of sponsors including npower, Wembley Stadium's Official Energy Supplier.

Betfred will also be promoting the Stadium's Club Wembley 10 year seat opportunities through its website and in selected betting outlets across the country.

♠ The FA cup final will be played at the Millenium stadium after Multiplex said the £757million project has a less than 30% chance of being completed on time.
♠ Multiplex will incur possible fines of maybe £1million per week if the March 31 deadline for the Wembley build is not met.
♠ Multiplex predict losses of £100million re the overall Wembley Stadium project.
♠ Multiplex also face fines of up to £125,000 for missing today's work.

FIFA World Cup - restrictions lifted for web media

World football's governing body, FIFA and the World Association of Newspapers, WAN, today announced that they had reached an agreement to lift all restrictions on digital publication of photographs of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

The agreement came after a private meeting between the FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter, and the Chief Executive Officer of WAN, Timothy Balding, who was also representing a coalition of leading news agencies, including Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images, DPA and EPA.

Mr Blatter said: "Our talks were constructive and reflected FIFA's intent to come to a mutually beneficial solution. Today, almost all print media of relevance have their own web edition and reader preferences increasingly underline a shift in consumer habits to access topical information."

"We understand that the publication of images and text must be treated with the same approach for the sake of maintaining a transparent information management policy that respects the freedom of the press."

"I am satisfied that we have been able to amend the earlier position taken and thus recognise WAN's justified requirements."

"I look forward to an open and ongoing dialogue in the future. In order to avoid future misunderstandings, I have invited WAN to nominate a member to sit on the FIFA Media Committee, where relevant matters pertaining to media relations are discussed openly and constructively".

Japan can reach World Cup semis says Zico
Japan are capable of upsetting the odds and reaching the semi-finals of this summer's World Cup, according to their Brazilian coach Zico.
Co-hosts Japan reached the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup and despite being grouped with his homeland, and reigning champions, Brazil, Zico believes the country can reach the last four in Germany.

"We are 18th in the FIFA world rankings but I think we are better than that and can beat anyone on our day," Zico said in an interview with Kicker magazine.

"We could reach the semi-finals but beating Australia in our first game could be crucial."

Japan face Australia on June 12 in Kaiserslautern and then further Group F matches against Croatia and Brazil.

French coach Philippe Troussier guided Japan at the last World Cup but Zico, scorer of 52 goals in 72 internationals for Brazil, believes he has added a new dimension to the team over the past four years.

"In 2002 we missed that extra physical ingredient. Japan would not have gone out at the last 16 stage if they had that.

"I needed to alter the Japanese mentality and make the players more aggressive.

"I have done this and given the players more freedom to express themselves."

Japan were the first team to qualify for the 64 match World Cup finals after cruising through their qualification group.

Charlton boss in pole position to succeed Sven
The Charlton boss spent more than two hours on Friday evening discussing the chance of succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson with two FA bosses at the London home of his brother. Our exclusive picture shows Curbishley leaving the football summit with the FA men. Chief executive Brian Barwick was present with his lawyer sidekick Simon Johnson.

The trio met on Friday evening to hear Curbishley outline his vision for England's football future - if he's appointed as the new head coach.

Four hours earlier, at Charlton's training ground, Curbishley hinted at what was about to happen.

He said: "What they have to do is draw up their short list and probably start talking to people now. There's no other way they're going to get it done. Obviously, they have to get it done before the World Cup." While the FA and Curbishley wanted to keep Friday's meeting secret, Charlton chairman Richard Murray has said he will not stand in Curblishley's way if he's offered the England job.