Soccer-Wenger not embarrassed by cup defeat to lowly Bradford

LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Arsenal's quarter-final League Cup exit at the hands of minnows Bradford City left manager Arsene Wenger questioning the power of his strike force but the Frenchman refused to label the defeat as an embarrassment.

Despite playing almost an hour with five attackers, Arsenal failed to break down the League Two club who went on to claim Tuesday's match 3-2 on penalties after a stubborn defensive display.

Wenger started German international striker Lukas Podolski alongside Gervinho and finished the match with attack-minded players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh and Tomas Rosicky on the pitch, but it was left to captain and centre back Thomas Vermaelen to send the match into extra time when he equalised in the 88th minute.

Gervinho squandered a glorious chance in front of goal and Francis Coquelin hit the woodwork in the 38th minute. The end-of-match statistics showed Arsenal had registered 28 shots with 12 on target compared to Bradford's five shots with three on target.

"We played with a very offensive team. What is disappointing is (we played) basically over an hour with five strikers and couldn't score," Wenger told club website www.arsenal.com.

"We created a lot of different situations. You have to say they defended very well. It's difficult to play this kind of game.

"I know people will say: 'it's League Two', but a cup game is a cup game. In football you always have a chance if you give everything."

Asked whether he was embarrassed by the defeat, Wenger said: "You feel embarrassed when you don't give everything. I feel the team did fight and will be more disappointed and frustrated.

"I cannot fault the effort. We have put the effort in (and) have given absolutely everything until the last minute. It was a typical English cup game and Bradford got on top of us in the end. We missed three penalties - that's a lot to take."

Arsenal have not won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2005 and the latest setback in a disappointing season could trigger another departure at the club with Britain's Telegraph newspaper reporting on Wednesday that Manchester United have their eye on Theo Walcott.

Walcott, who did not play against Bradford, has yet to commit to Arsenal after contract talks broke down in August and the 23-year-old becomes a free agent at the end of the season when his current deal expires.

Striker Robin Van Persie went to Old Trafford at the start of the season. Arsenal have felt his loss with the Dutchman so far netting 11 goals in the Premier League for his new team.

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EU court adviser backs free-to-air TV cover of soccer finals

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Britain and Belgium should be allowed to ensure free-to-air TV coverage of the World Cup and Euro soccer finals as they consider them of major pu blic importance, a n adviser to Europe's highest court said on Wednesday.

World soccer's governing body FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA argued that the two countries had interfered with their property rights by restricting the broadcast of both competitions to free-to-air TV channels, preventing pay TV companies from bidding to screen them.

TV broadcasting rights for the finals of the major tournaments, each held every four years, account for a significant source of revenues for FIFA and UEFA.

In club soccer, for example, the English Premier League has became the most richest domestic competition in the world game thanks to live TV deals with BSkyB and other pay TV companies.

FIFA and UEFA appealed to the Luxembourg-based EU Court of Justice (ECJ) after the General Court, Europe's second-highest, last year threw out their challenge to a European Commission ruling backing the British and Belgian decisions.

ECJ Advocate General Niilo Jaaskinen agreed with the General Court.

"If those competitions are considered by member states to be events of major importance for their society, those member states may, in order to ensure broad public access, require that they be broadcast on free-to-air television," he said in a non-binding opinion.

The ECJ will rule on the case in the coming months. While the advocate general's opinion does not tie the judges hands, they follow advisers' recommendations in the majority of cases.

FIFA organises the World Cup finals and UEFA the Euro finals. Media rights for the Euro 2012 tournament, held earlier this year in Poland and Ukraine, were expected to generate revenues of 840 million euros ($1.09 billion), according to figures from UEFA.

Britain ensures that a number of major sports events including the Olympics remain on free-to-air broadcasters like the publicly-funded BBC.

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Soccer-Chelsea are tighter under Benitez, says Cahill

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Chelsea have become more compact defensively under interim manager Rafael Benitez as they prepare for the soccer Club World Cup in Japan, defender Gary Cahill said on Wednesday.

The English Premier League side, who face Mexico's Monterrey in their semi-final in Yokohama on Thursday, took four games to register their first win under the Spaniard.

However, nine goals in their last two matches have given Chelsea a boost for a tournament they are under pressure to win after an embarrassing group-stage exit from the Champions League.

"Since (Benitez) came we have tightened up as a unit defensively and as a team," Cahill told reporters.

"That's given us a platform to build on. It was hard at first to get his points across because we were playing games almost every other day.

"Now the players are adapting, they know what's expected of them and it's working well at the minute."

Cahill said the Chelsea players had realised the significance of the Club World Cup since flying out to Japan following Saturday's 3-1 win at Sunderland.

"Since coming here it's sunk in now how big it is," the centre-back said. "It's hard to get into the competition in the first place.

"We've come all this way and want to win it. Our Brazilian players have said it's absolutely huge for them and we saw the send-off (Corinthians) got at the airport."

Some 15,000 Corinthians fans saw off their team in Sao Paulo, waving banners and letting off fire extinguishers in the airport lobby.

DREAM CHANCE

Chelsea have Brazilians David Luiz, Ramires and Oscar among their ranks and Benitez echoed Cahill's sentiments about how much the Club World Cup meant to them.

"They said it was a dream for them to play in the tournament," said Benitez, who won the trophy with Inter Milan in 2010 and was a runner-up with Liverpool in 2005.

"I intend to win the tournament," said Benitez, who replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo last month.

"I will use the best team possible - you can't leave it for the final. You have to win your semi-final."

While club captain John Terry remained in London for treatment on a knee injury, Frank Lampard is likely to play a part after overcoming a nagging calf problem.

"Frank Lampard will be available," confirmed Benitez, who knows any slip-ups in Japan could prompt trigger-happy Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to hire a new coach.

"My main focus is to get the players to sleep for more than four hours.

"My experience with this tournament is to look at the condition of the players in training. Some are fresher than others. We have plenty of options."

With Fernando Torres rediscovering his touch after an alarming drought and scoring four goals in the last two games, Benitez even cracked a joke about Abramovich.

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Soccer-Corinthians beat Al-Ahly to reach Club World Cup final

TOYOTA, Japan, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's Corinthians beat African champions Al-Ahly 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Club World Cup and set up a potential showdown with Chelsea.

Peru striker Paolo Guerrero twisted superbly to head the winner for the Libertadores Cup holders on the half-hour mark to the delight of some 20,000 Corinthians fans in Toyota.

Corinthians, the first team since 1978 to win South America's premier club competition without losing a game, survived a second-half onslaught from Egypt's Al-Ahly to advance.

Chelsea, whose defence of their Champions League title ended in the group stage last week, will face Mexico's Monterrey in the second semi-final in Yokohama on Thursday.

European sides have won the last five editions of the Club World Cup, Barcelona lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2011.

Around 15,000 fans have made the long trip from Brazil to cheer on Corinthians, the first winners of the FIFA competition in 2000.

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Corinthians beat Al-Ahly to reach Club World Cup final

TOYOTA, Japan (Reuters) - Brazil's Corinthians beat African champions Al-Ahly 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Club World Cup and set up a potential showdown with Chelsea.

Peru striker Paolo Guerrero twisted superbly to head the winner for the Libertadores Cup holders on the half-hour mark to the delight of some 20,000 Corinthians fans in Toyota.

Corinthians, the first team since 1978 to win South America's premier club competition without losing a game, survived a second-half onslaught from Egypt's Al-Ahly to advance.

Chelsea, whose defence of their Champions League title ended in the group stage last week, will face Mexico's Monterrey in the second semi-final in Yokohama on Thursday.

European sides have won the last five editions of the Club World Cup, Barcelona lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2011.

Around 15,000 fans have made the long trip from Brazil to cheer on Corinthians, the first winners of the FIFA competition in 2000.

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Australian Radio DJs Behind Prank Call Under Fire

An outpouring of anger is being directed today at the two Australian radio hosts after the death of a nurse who was caught in the DJs' prank call to hospital where Kate Middleton was treated earlier this week. Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital - the U.K. hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment, condemned the prank in a letter to the Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo, the Australian radio station's parent company. Glenarthur said the prank humiliated "two dedicated and caring nurses," and the consequences were "tragic beyond words," The Associated Press reported. DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, radio shock jocks at Sydney's 2Day FM have been taken off the air, but the company they work for did not fire them or condemn them. "I think that it's a bit early to be drawing conclusions from what is really a deeply tragic matter," Rhys Holleran, CEO of Southern Cross Austereo told a news conference in Sydney. "I mean, our main concern is for the family. I don't think anyone could have reasonably foreseen that this was going to be a result." Nurse Jacintha Saldanha was found dead Friday morning after police were called to an address near the hospital to "reports of a woman found unconscious," according to a statement from Scotland Yard. Circumstances of her death are still being investigated, but are not suspicious at this stage, authorities said Friday. Following news of Saldanha's death, commentary on social media included posts expressing shock, sadness and anger. A sampling of some of the twitter posts directed at the DJs included: "you scumbag, hope you get what's coming to you" and "I hope you're happy now." The hospital said that Saldanha worked at the hospital for more than four years. They called her a "first-class nurse" and "a well-respected and popular member of the staff." The hospital extended their "deepest sympathies" to family and friends, saying that "everyone is shocked" at this "tragic event." "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances, she will be laid to rest in Shirva, India," Saldanha's husband posted on Facebook. The duchess spent three days at the hospital undergoing treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum, severe or debilitating nausea and vomiting. She was released from the hospital on Thursday morning. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jacintha Saldanha," a spokesman from St. James Palace said in a statement. On Friday, Greig and Christian had been gloating about their successful call to the hospital, in which they pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles and were able to obtain personal information about the Duchess's serious condition. "You know what they were the worst accents ever and when we made that phone call we were sure a hundred people at least before us would have tried the same thing," said Grieg on air. She added with a laugh, "we were expecting to be hung up on we didn't even know what to say [when] we got through." "We got through and now the entire world is talking, of course," said her co-host Christian. When the royal impersonators called the hospital, Saldanha put through to a second nurse who told the royal impersonators that Kate was "quite stable" and hadn't "had any retching." The hospital apologized for the mistake. "The call was transferred through to a ward, and a short conversation was held with one of the nursing staff," the hospital said in a statement. "King Edward VII's Hospital deeply regrets this incident." "This was a foolish prank call that we all deplore," John Lofthouse, the hospital's chief executive, said in the statement. "We take patient confidentiality extremely seriously, and we are now reviewing our telephone protocols." The radio station also apologized for the prank call. "2Day FM sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the inquiry to Kate's hospital. The radio segment was done with lighthearted intentions," the station said in a statement earlier. Backlash The Sydney radio station - famous for its pranks and outrageousness - has suspended all advertising in the face an advertising boycott. It was warned by Australia's broadcast regulator last spring about its violations of the "decency provision" of the country's broadcast code. Authorities are now looking to see if the radio hosts violated the criminal code, with some calling for charges of involuntary manslaughter. The prank had been cleared by the Australian radio station's lawyers. CEO Holleran said the DJs followed the company's procedures before broadcasting the call. "I think the more important question here is that we're very confident that we haven't done anything illegal. Our main concern at this point in time is what has happened is incredibly tragic and we're deeply saddened and we're incredibly affected by that."

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Australian Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff

PARIS (Reuters) - Three-times world time-trial champion Michael Rogers has signed a two-year contract with Saxo-Tinkoff, the Dutch team said on Friday. The 32-year-old Australian left Team Sky after two years with the British outfit, with whom he played a key part in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory in July. Rogers is set to play the same support role for Spain's Alberto Contador, who will seek a third Tour de France win next year. "I think Michael's record pretty much speaks for itself. He is without a doubt a world class rider, a very strong time trialist, who is also capable of climbing, and on top of that he is a great guy," Saxo-Tinkoff team manager Bjarne Riis said in a statement. Rogers won three consecutive time-trial world titles from 2003 to 2005.

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Cycling-Australian Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Three-times world time-trial champion Michael Rogers has signed a two-year contract with Saxo-Tinkoff, the Dutch team said on Friday. The 32-year-old Australian left Team Sky after two years with the British outfit, with whom he played a key part in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory in July. Rogers is set to play the same support role for Spain's Alberto Contador, who will seek a third Tour de France win next year. "I think Michael's record pretty much speaks for itself. He is without a doubt a world class rider, a very strong time trialist, who is also capable of climbing, and on top of that he is a great guy," Saxo-Tinkoff team manager Bjarne Riis said in a statement.

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Rugby-Launchbury gets England fans' award

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Second row forward Joe Launchbury was voted England's "man of the series" on Friday following his impressive displays in their four autumn internationals where he made his debut. The powerful 21-year-old made such an impact off the bench in the win over Fiji and defeat to Australia that he was given his first start in the one point defeat by South Africa and retained his spot for last week's famous 38-21 victory over New Zealand. The award was based on a poll of fans on the website of series sponsor QBE, with Launchbury earning 42 percent of the votes. Of the other nominees fellow lock Geoff Parling gained 23 percent, captain and flanker Chris Robshaw 21 and fullback Alex Goode 14. "To win this award is massively humbling and I'm grateful to everyone who voted - to be honest I was shocked to even be shortlisted," Launchbury said in a statement. "It's been an amazing month for me, to make my debut was a massive honour - and at the time the biggest achievement of my career. But as the weeks went by I felt like I grew in confidence and for it all to culminate in that amazing win against New Zealand topped it all off. "As Tom Wood said after the New Zealand game, although he won man of the match, any number of players could have taken the award, and that's exactly how I feel picking up this award. You're only as good as the 14 players around you and even when our backs were against the wall we stuck together."

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New Zealand's Taylor to skip South Africa tour

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand head to South Africa to take on the world's top-ranked test nation in tumult, with Ross Taylor sitting out of the two-match series after giving up the captaincy and Daniel Vettori ruled out with injury. Taylor rejected an offer to keep the reins of the test team but step down as skipper of the Twenty20 and one-day sides, leaving opener Brendon McCullum to take on all three roles. The announcement on Friday by New Zealand Cricket boss David White capped days of speculation about Taylor's future, with local media reporting a rift between head coach Mike Hesson and the 28-year-old batsman. White confirmed Hesson was behind the move to depose Taylor from skippering the team in the shorter formats, part of a review following the tour of Sri Lanka where they drew a two-test series 1-1. He added, however, that the coach's recommendation had the board's blessing. "We regret that Ross Taylor has declined the opportunity, therefore McCullum has been appointed as Blackcaps captain for all three forms of the game," White told a news conference in Auckland. "He thought about it long and hard and he said that he would like a break to spend time with his family and we've agreed to that and we respect it." Taylor's decision to sit out the series robs New Zealand of their top test batsman and underlines the extent of the friction between the former captain and team management. Taylor had scored 142 and 74 in a man-of-the-match performance to guide the Black Caps to a rare away win in the second test over Sri Lanka in Colombo, but local media were rife with reports of his removal throughout the week. "It's not ideal and we would be a stronger team with Ross Taylor in it," said White, who expressed regret the saga had played out in local newspapers. Taylor later issued a statement confirming that he had rejected the offer to stay on as test captain, citing concern that the split roles might prove "confusing" for the team. "It has been a very challenging and pressured time and I don't believe I can give 100 per cent to the game at this time," he said. "Cricket is my life and my passion. But taking a break is the right thing for me right now. "However, I want people to know that I am determined to contribute to the Black Caps team in the future and help whoever is in charge to win games of cricket for New Zealand." Taylor's absence compounds the team's woes after fellow former skipper Vettori was ruled out of the tour to continue his recovery from a troublesome Achilles. The 33-year-old all-rounder, New Zealand's most experienced player, hurt his foot at the World Twenty20 tournament in September, one of a string of injuries that have sidelined him from most of his team's schedule this year. Uncapped 32-year-old Bruce Martin will head to South Africa as a specialist spinner in the absence of left-armer Vettori, with legspinner Todd Astle missing out. BJ Watling has been picked as wicketkeeper in favour of Kruger van Wyk, while middle order batsman Dean Brownlie was also named in a 15-man squad released on Friday. The 31-year-old McCullum has played 70 test matches at an average of 35.63 and 206 one-day internationals, and was in a two-horse race with Taylor to take over the captaincy when Vettori relinquished it in June last year. McCullum faces a baptism of fire against South Africa, however, with a tough three-test home series against England to follow in March. Taylor guided New Zealand to a breakthrough test win in Australia a year ago, but has been under pressure in 2012, his team beaten in test series defeats at home to South Africa and then away to the West Indies and India.

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