Qatar bullish over World Cup suitability

Organisers of the 2022 FIFA Worldhave insisted that Qatar is a suitable choice to hold the tournament.

The Qatar 2022 supreme committee hit back following claims from English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke that hosting the competition in the Qatari summer would be “impossible” due to the extreme heat in the Arab nation.

Fears regarding the climate have long been held over the 22nd edition of international football’s most prestigious tournament, with a switch to the winter months later in the calendar mooted as a likely outcome.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already conceded that players and fans alike could struggle with the heat, while general secretary Jerome Valcke admitted in March that the tournament may be moved.

The average temperature in the Qatari capital, Doha, in July 2012 was 41 degrees Celsius.

The competition’s organising body maintain that they will be able to host the tournament at any time of year, with the supreme committee telling BBC Sport: “It was the right decision to award the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in 2022.

“We are ready to host in summer or winter. We have always maintained that this issue requires the agreement of the international football community.

“A decision to alter the dates of the 2022 FIFA World Cup would not affect our infrastructure planning.”

Hodgson distances himself from Rooney rift

England manager Roy Hodgson hopes that Wayne Rooney can mend his rift with Manchester United after picking him for the Scotland friendly.

The decision to select the seemingly unfit striker, who has not made any pre-season appearances for the Premier League club, has only served to ignite speculation around his future.

And with Chelsea having already had two bids rejected for the player, Hodgson insists that the choice to call him up for the August 14 friendly was not designed to undermine United manager David Moyes.

“The situation with Wayne is delicate at his club because obviously there is a dispute going on, but I’ve got to close my eyes to those things,” he told talkSPORT.

“It’s important that no one is going to be able to suggest that there is any wedge between David Moyes and I, or that I’m doing something that cuts against him. I’m not.

“David understands that having Wayne around me for these few days, even though he’s not 100 per cent fit because he’s going to play an important part later on.

“All I can hope for, I suppose, is that the situation resolves itself to everyone’s satisfaction.

“In the meantime I will continue to have faith in him and continue to use him as long as he is physically fit to get onto the field of play.”

The declaration from the England manager begs questions as to whether fitness has actually been the cause of the player’s absence, but Hodgson wants Rooney in the squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The striker has already scored four goals in five games as England look to seal their spot in Brazil, with the next match against Moldova on September 6.

Sacchi concerned by Serie A foreigners

Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has voiced his concern over the number of foreigners in Serie A and its impact on the national team.

The 67-year-old led Milan to one Serie A title as well as back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 with a squad made up largely of home-grown players, complemented by the Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten.

Juventus won their second consecutive Serie A title last season with 12 Italy internationals in their squad, but Sacchi, currently employed as the national team’s youth co-ordinator, still sees cause for concern when he assesses the situation across the top flight.

With the champions having already bolstered their squad during the close-season with the signings of Argentinian Carlos Tevez and Spain’s Fernando Llorente, and others following suit with overseas signings of their own, Sacchi believes that a win-at-all-costs attitude in domestic football has damaging consequences for the national team.

“If I read the formations of the teams it is not an Italian championship,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“And when there are too many foreigners, history says that our football and national team will suffer.

“If we look for example at Real Madrid, it is true that there are many foreigners but also many Spaniards, often coming from the youth academy because it makes the fans happy.

“In Italy, clubs are only interested in winning, and if you do it with 25 foreign field that’s okay.”

Despite Sacchi’s fears, Italy reached the final of UEFA Euro 2012, where they were beaten by Spain, also losing to the same opponents on penalties in the semi-finals of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Meme of the week

Cissokho on verge of Liverpool switch

Valencia defender Aly Cissokho
may be on the verge of joining Premier League side Liverpool after agreeing personal terms at Anfield.

The left-back, who joined Valencia from Lyon in 2012, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with both Liverpool and Sunderland thought to be interested in his services.

Valencia have yet to agree to allow the 25-year-old to leave the Mestalla, but Liverpool appear to have stolen a march on other potential suitors.

“Liverpool offered me something and it’s true I came to an agreement with them,” Cissokho told Le10Sport.

“Now it is the clubs who must decide.

“We should know more this week. If nothing is happening, it will undoubtedly mean that I will not go to Liverpool.

Liverpool are hoping to sign Cissokho on a season-long loan deal, while Valencia are only willing to offload the Frenchman on a permanent deal.

Cissokho confirmed that a disagreement over the terms of the transfer is preventing the deal from progressing, but he stressed that he is happy to remain in Valencia.

“It is the terms of the transfer”, Cissokho added.

“Liverpool would like a loan with an option to buy while Valencia prefer a straight transfer.

“If I don’t leave, it will not be a problem. I am good in Valencia.”

QPR fail with Defoe approach

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed he made an bid for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, but his approach was rebuffed.

Redknapp, who managed Defoe at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham, was hopeful of a reunion with the England international at Loftus Road to help fire the club back to the Premier League.

But despite the setback,he is remaining hopeful a deal can be struck, although he admits it is unlikely.

“I’d love to have Jermain,” Redknapp told the The London Evening Standard.

“We made an enquiry but at the moment he’s not available.

“We’re nowhere near anything. There is a small chance of it happening.”

Defoe has made 54 appearances for England, scoring 19 goals, and was selected in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next week’s friendly against Scotland on Thursday.

QPR may now turn their attention elsewhere in their search for another striker, after allowing Loic Remy to join Premier League side Newcastle United on loan.

The club have already added Charlie Austin to their attacking ranks in the close-season but Redknapp is hunting another arrival before the transfer window which closes on September 2.