Andriy Shevchenko struck two second half goals as Eur0 2012 co-hosts Ukraine came from behind to beat Sweden in Kiev to take top spot in Group D.

The 35-year-old rolled back the years with two vintage headed goals in the space of six minutes to cancel out Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s 52nd minute opener and give Oleh Blokhin’s side perfect start to their tournament campaign on home soil. Sweden had chances to snatch a point and Johan Elmander was the main culprit blasting over from 10 yards in the closing stages as they immediately plunged to the bottom of the group following England’s draw with France earlier in the day.

Priot to kick off both teams knew a win would give them the advantage rolling the stalemate in Donetsk but didn’t seem to take heed in a lacklustre first half that was deficient in both quality and incident. Shevchenko did have a few sniffs of goal and dragged an early shot wide after a neat interchange with Andriy Yarmolenko before seeing another effort blocked in the penalty area. Ibrahimovic, given the responsibility of captaining Sweden by manager Erik Hamrén, was also misfiring hitting the outside of the post with a header after being picked out by Sebastian Larsson.

The AC Milan striker made no mistake seven minutes after the break though instinctively stabbing the ball home from close range after Kim Kallstrom had returned Larsson’s deep cross. That seemed to jolt Ukraine into life and within three minutes they were level as Shevchenko displayed the sharpness that made him one of the most feared strikers in European football. Despite been robbed of his pace courtesy of age and injuries the former Chelsea hit man darted ahead of Olaf Mellberg  to power Yarmonlenko’s cross past Andreas Isaksson and become the second oldest goal scorer in European Championship history.

Six minutes later more superb movement from Shevchenko yielded more rewards dashing to the near post to glance Oleh Gusev’s corner in at the near post to send the Ukrainian support into pandemonium. Starring down the barrel of defeat Sweden called up on their last reserves of energy and piled on the pressure in the hope of snatching an equaliser. Andriy Pyatov did superbly to keep out a thundering volley from Ibrahimovic before playing Elmander through in the dying embers only for the former Bolton striker’s composure to desert him a the crucial moment.

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Mellberg then came close to breaking Ukraine hearts as his back post volley agonisingly dropped just over the bar and onto the roof of the net as Shevchenko and his teammates rejoiced at the final whistle.

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has stated that star striker Radamel Falcao will not leave the club, despite interest from both Manchester City and Chelsea.

The Colombia international has emerged as one of the most lethal marksmen in the European game, with star performances for Porto in 2010-11 followed by an excellent first season with the Vicente Calderon club in 2011-12.

Falcao has won the Europa League twice in succession, leading the goalscoring charts, and was also on target on a regular basis last term in La Liga.

Chelsea have identified the South American as a possible replacement to Didier Drogba, who left the club this summer after his contract expired.

City are thought to be ready to shake-up their attacking options also, with temperamental pair Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, and out-of-favour Edin Dzeko, all unsure over their futures.

However, the Spanish capital-city side have confirmed that they have no inclination of cashing in on their star striker.

“Falcao will remain here and any talk of an exit is misplaced,” Caminero told local press, translated to English by The Sun.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Arsene Wenger is keen to add further players to his squad before the start of the season, according to The Guardian.

The anticipated sale of Robin Van Persie will give the Frenchman financial license in the transfer market. Having already secured Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, it is expected that Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla will become a Gunner in the next few days with a reported fee of £15.6 million having been agreed.

The projected arrival of Cazorla could identify a definite end for Van Persie’s tenure at the Emirates. Signing a wide player suggests that Podolski and Giroud will be played through the centre, indicating the vacancy that would be filled by the high flying Dutchman.

Speaking to the press in Beijing as part of Arsenal’s pre-season tour, Wenger was coy but definite when talking about his planned transfer moves;

“I am ready to talk a lot, but not a lot about transfers, because it is a very fragile subject and a very secret subject. We bought Giroud and Podolski and I hope that we ‘bought’ Diaby and Wilshere too, who didn’t play at all last season. We will add Wilshere to the squad as soon as possible. But we are not at the end of it (transfers). We will still bring players in”.

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The FA have charged Newcastle manager Alan Pardew with misconduct, after the manager pushed the referee’s assistant in his side’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.

The Magpies boss was livid with a decision of play-on after the ball had appeared to have crossed the touchline for a Newcastle throw, and pushed the official with one hand.

The news means that the Tyneside club’s trainer could face a touchline ban, with the news revealed on the FA’s official website.

“The FA has today [Monday 20 August 2012] charged Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew with misconduct following his side’s match against Tottenham Hotspur on 18 August 2012,” the statement reads.

“Pardew has until 4pm on 23 August 2012 to respond to the charge.”

Goals from Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa cancelled out a Jermain Defoe strike in the game to give the hosts three points.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Wayne Rooney has revealed in excerpts of his new autobiography of what it is really like to be on the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous “hairdryer” treatment, and claims it does not always have a positive effect. The Daily Mail reports.

Rooney reflected on some of the most notable hairdryer moments during his time at United and admitted it can cause some players to have a mental breakdown.

He feels the worst telling-off he experienced was aimed at Louis Saha, after the Frenchman missed a late penalty to salvage a point against Celtic in the Champions League.

 He said: “He’s in Louis’ face, shouting and screaming. It spurs some of the lads on, but it crushes others.”

The 26-year-old also described how he deals with the anger vented towards him and perhaps unwisely, answers back.

He added: “I don’t like getting shouted at by anyone. It’s hard for me to take so sometimes I shout back.

“I tell him he’s wrong and I’m right.”

At a club like United,Ferguson demands the highest standards of his players, shown by his fury at the Red Devils’ final day defeat to West Ham in 2007- despite already winning the Premier League title and just moments before the players received the trophy.

“After the rollicking it takes a while before everyone cheers up enough to put their Premier League-winning smiles back on”, Rooney said.

Rooney and the rest of the United team will be hoping to avoid many future hairdryer treatments from Sir Alex, as they attempt to wrestle the title back from Manchester City.

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After a spectacular 5-0 victory on the opening day, Fulham have lost two in a row and welcome and unbeaten West Brom Albion to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Cottagers were drubbed 3-0 at West Ham last time out, having previously put up a good performance losing 3-2 at Old Trafford. They have also found themselves dumped out of the League Cup by Sheffield Wednesday.

With three points from a possible nine, Martin Jol will be no doubt going out for maximum points against the Baggies.

Greek International captain Girogos Karagounis could feature, with Jol having singed the 35-year-old on a free transfer.

“I’m delighted to have signed for Fulham Football Club and I am excited by a new challenge in England and the Barclays Premier League,” the former Inter Milan and Panathinaikos midfielder said.

“I’m looking forward to working under Martin Jol and playing alongside some fantastic players at this club.”

Fellow new boy Dimitar Berbatov could also be in line for his first start for his new side, while Simon Davies, Bryan Ruiz and Kerim Frei are all expected to be in the squad.

Steve Clarke’s West Brom side have made a fantastic start to the campaign, beating Liverpool 3-0 on the opening day, before earning a dramatic point at White Hart Lane.

The Baggies claimed another Merseyside scalp during their last outing, beating Everton 2-0 at the Hawthorns.

Romelu Lukaku is hopeful of returning to the squad having sat out the Everton victory.

“Romelu’s injury was the result of a tackle and, to be honest, it was probably a 10-day injury. He just ran out of time to play against Everton,” Clarke said.

“It was natural that he would be fit and ready to play for Belgium.”

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Prediction: Fulham 2-2 West Brom

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Newcastle forward Demba Ba is unhappy at starting recent games on the bench, and could consider his future if he is not reinstated to the side’s starting line-up according to the striker’s agent.

The Senegal international started the Magpies’ fixture against Everton on the bench on Monday, before coming on to score both goals for the visitors in a 2-2 draw.

The forward’s agent Alex Gontran has stated that his client is becoming disillusioned with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.

“Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Demba doesn’t understand the management,” the agent told BBC Sport.

“If he continues to be a substitute all season, we’ll look at other solutions.

“Demba is happy at Newcastle. He is playing in the Premier League, with lot of fellow French speakers and he loves the club’s supporters.

“He would like to start every game but he respects the choice of the coach, even if he does not always understand or agree.

“How could you put your best striker with full confidence on the left wing?’

“The choice to put Demba on the left last season was good for the club, because Papiss Cisse scored 13 goals.

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“But there was a lack of recognition for Demba. It is more difficult to play well when you don’t have the confidence of your staff,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

Brede Hangeland has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as a solution to Sir Alex Ferguson’s concerning list of defensive injuries.

The towering centre back has been at Craven Cottage since 2008, however with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, Fulham boss Martin Jol may be tempted to cash-in for the big Norwegian should an offer be made by Manchester United during the January transfer window.

Defenders Chris Smalling, Phil jones and Nemanja Vidic have all been sidelined for United with long-term injures, however Smalling returned to training last week. So far this season, Rio Ferdinand and Johnny Evans have been Fergie’s only available centre backs, with midfielder Michael Carrick stepping in as cover.

Aged 31, Hangeland is older than United’s usual acquisitions, however the player would add depth and experience to the squad’s defence which has struggled to hit top form this season.

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The Fulham captain may also be a short-term replacement for Nemanja Vidic, who could be lured away from the Premier League by Barcelona or Juventus this January according to the Mirror.

There is a real fresh sense around the Britannia Stadium this season that has been absent for 12 months. On the outside to the average fan it seems the same, same style of football, same expectations, same Stoke.

But the reality is far different. There was a general feeling of stagnation towards the back end of the 2011-12 season and with a lack of transfer activity for most of the summer, combined with the clubs toughest start to a Premier League season, left many Potters fans cast a worrying eye over their shoulders for the first time in three years.

The Premier League did what it always does; it worked out the problem – Stoke City. Teams found a way to stifle the attacking, physical threat and deal with the set-plays while snuffing out the wingers which had served us so well. In the Premier League you need to evolve and improve your standards, standing still isn’t an option like Stoke did last year.

But deadline day delivered as it always seems to do for Tony Pulis and in came Charlie Adam, perhaps the most important signing the club has made in a long time as Adam is the figure head of the Stoke City evolution.

His inclusion has seen Stoke alternate to a 4-3-3- formation. They no longer get outnumbered in midfield and have added a creative spark (a midfielder that can pass a ball!!!), the main ingredient missing from and otherwise well-balanced side. Adam’s ability to retain and distribute the ball is key to the new Stoke. They have kept their rough approach, while adding a touch of class.

Adding to that has been signs of rejuvenation for Matthew Etherington and the fresh impetus of Michael Kightly down the wings. Stoke look a goal threat again in open play and Peter Crouch is no longer isolated on his own upfront. Adam controls the Stoke game, there are players finding space for him to pass into instead of waiting for it to be lumped in the general direction of Crouch. Geoff Cameron looks a fine full-back who is comfortable going forwards and backwards, N’Zonzi is flourishing in a three man midfield, Ryan Shawcross has been called up for England and have I mentioned we have signed Michael Owen?

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Sitting 13th in the league may seem like par for the course as far as we are concerned, but in the opening eight games we have played both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Now with a kinder run of fixtures up until Christmas there is an air of excitement and quiet optimism that we can surprise a few teams and critics alike. But for now, as always, Stoke are going gently under the radar just how they like it.

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Martin O’Neill is delaying his decisions on whether to pick four players for Saturday’s Aston Villa clash who are fighting injury.

Seb Larsson, Danny Rose and Craig Gardner all suffered knocks during the Black Cats’ draw with Stoke last weekend, whilst Carlos Cuellar is again having problems with a hamstring strain which ruled him out earlier this season for a fortnight.

O’Neill has indicated that Sunderland are monitoring the situation with Cuellar. However, he says that the injury situations are not serious, but that he cannot definitely say which players can take part.

He said to the Jarrow & Hebburn Gazette: “Carlos got through the Middlesbrough game fine. No problem. But then overnight he felt a tightening in his hamstring, and it’s something that we’ve been looking at since then. None of the injuries are serious – Seb and Craig had dead legs and Danny Rose has a cut to his ankle which is taking time to heal. That’s why we decided to rest them for the cup tie. But there’s every chance they’ll be fine – Crig trained yesterday, and generally they’ll be there or thereabouts. It’s just that we can’t say for definite as things stand right now who will be fit and who won’t be.”

The Sunderland boss has called the League Cup loss “a major disappointment”. He believes they have players who are talented, and that they have to score to solve the team’s problems.

“We’ve got some very talented players in the club, and for one reason or another it just hasn’t been happening for them. But what you need to do is just keep on going because the simple fact is that all the problems we have are nothing that a goal or two wouldn’t solve.”

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Martin O’Neill will surely be hoping for an improved performance tomorrow in the clash against his former club Aston Villa

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