The Ukraine coach, Oleg Blokhin, has named a familiar-looking squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Group H rivals England at Wembley next month.

Newspapers in Ukraine have criticised referee Viktor Kassai and England striker Wayne Rooney after the co-hosts were eliminated from Euro 2012.

Roy Hodgson was last night considering unleashing Theo Walcott upon Ukraine in England's final Euro 2012 group game, after the Arsenal winger was passed fit.

In the build up to co-host Ukraine's game against Sweden last night the atmosphere in Kiev was electric.

Sweden will prepare for Friday's Euro 2012 showdown with England burdened by a scathing assessment from coach Erik Hamren.

Andrei Shevchenko has offered his support to Chelsea striker Fernando Torres as he struggles to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge. Shevchenko, who failed to impress after his own £30m move to Chelsea, has told the Spaniard "to relax" and play his natural game in search of his first Chelsea goal.

Former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has warned his Dynamo Kiev team-mates to expect a rough ride against Manchester City at Eastlands in the return leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

The Blackburn Rovers manager, Sam Allardyce, is happy to play a waiting game with his summer signing Nikola Kalinic, insisting the striker has been bought for the long term.

When the Abu Dhabi United Group were hovering over Premier League clubs, they considered buying Manchester City, Newcastle or Arsenal. City's Thaksin Shinawatra duly rolled over with his legs in the air and Newcastle's Mike Ashley was left cursing, not having had the opportunity to do the same.

A tale of pies and prejudice in the Black Country saw West Bromwich Albion pen another chapter in their modern ascendancy over Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday. Albion repeated the score from the Championship meeting in October - their biggest victory over Wolves for 25 years - while their fans won the Molineux song contest with equal ease.

The two brothers arrested on suspicion of planning a chemical terrorist atrocity protested their innocence last night as the police were given more time to question them.