Roy Hodgson Takes Over at West Brom in the Hope of Getting England Call

Ex-Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has taken over from Roberto Di Matteo as manager of West Bromwich Albion after the Italian was sacked following a disastrous run of results that saw the Baggies lose 13 of their last 18 games. It will be the 63-year-old's 21st management job in a football career that has spanned 46 years.

The move back into the dugout for has come much quicker than anyone expected, including Hodgson. From being unceremoniously sacked by Liverpool after just six months it was assumed by the watching football world that the well liked manager would take a well deserved break from the game.

However, it would seem that his desire to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager next summer after the Euro 2012 finals would be the main catalyst to a quick return to the game.

2018 and 2022 World Cup Race: Every Bidding Nation and Vote Analysis

The FIFA Exco will meet over the next three days to decide the destination of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Here we look at each bidding nation and the 23 men whose vote will decide the winners.

The 2018 World Cup will go to Europe as Holland/Belgium, Spain/Portugal, England and Russia address the FIFA Exco with their final submissions on December 2. One day before the five bidding nations for 2022 will get their chance to state their case.

Each submission can only last a maximum of 30 minutes and is the final chance the bidding nations have to sway the vote.

So far, the Iberian bid claims to have eight votes guaranteed for 2018 while Qatar seems quietly confident for 2022.

To win the World Cup 13 votes must be won, with the process eliminating a bidding nation until that total can be reached.

Here we look at each bidding nation, their strengths and weaknesses and the 23 Exco members and where they may or may not vote.

David Beckham Replacing Fabio Capello as England's Manager in 2012?

Fabio Capello has announced that a new English coach will be added to his England backroom team before September. The man to take the job and succeed the Italian in 2012 could be David Beckham, for a number of reasons.

Despite the 115 cap international star stating on July 14 that he had "no interest in being a coach or becoming a manager," speculation has begun to grow that Beckham will be talked around by Trevor Brooking into taking the job.

Newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, who in turn owns NewsCorp and Sky TV, have begun to print articles stating that Beckham would be the ideal successor to the Italian because of his experience and Diego Maradona-like celebrity.

Harry Redknapp Diffuses Tottenham-England Row Ahead of U19 Euro Finals

As England U19's head to France for the UEFA European Championships, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has moved to diffuse a massive club versus country row. England manager Noel Blake had initially wanted four to five of Spurs' youth players, only for club chairman Daniel Levy to want the players for Tottenham's preseason training.

World Cup 2010: LIVE BLOG: England 1-4 Germany: Three Lions Tamed in Controversial Game

Germany have beaten England 4-1 in the Last-16 of the World Cup. 

However, in almost a replica of Geoff Hurst's controversial shot in 1966 it was England who suffered at the hands of a linesman. With the scores at 2-1, Frank Lampard's chipped effort cannoned off the crossbar and over the line before bouncing out—Germany then ran amok...

World Cup 2010: USA and England Through to Last-16, Relief Beyond Belief

England and the USA have progressed to the Last-16 of the 2010 World Cup after a Landon Donovan goal, in the 91st minute against Algeria, won the Group for the U.S.

Meanwhile Jermain Defoe's early strike proved enough to gain second place for a nervous Three Lions as they edged past Slovenia 1-0.

World Cup 2010: England 0-0 Algeria: Three Lions' Worst Performance in Years

An abysmal England drew 0-0 with Algeria in the ironically named Green Point Stadium to leave their chances of reaching the Last-16 on a knife edge. It was one of the Three Lions' worst ever performances,  and they can count themselves lucky that they lived to fight another day.

Should they beat Slovenia on Wednesday they will reach the Last-16. On their last two performances that looks highly unlikely.

World Cup 2010: England's 10 Stages of Elimination from the World Cup

Some things are written in stone. Just as the World Cup comes around every four years, you can be guaranteed that England will begin every tournament convinced that they will win…

World Cup 2010: England 1-1 USA: Fabio Capello Left Green in Face as U.S. Earns Deserved Draw

Team USA came away with a highly credible 1-1 draw against England, despite Robert Green's huge howler after he allowed Clint Dempsey's tame shot to creep into the goal. The U.S. forced much of the game against an abysmally inept England who played about as bad as they possibly could.

Clint Dempsey's equalizer cancelled out Steven Gerrard's early strike as Team USA were every bit England's equals during the game.

Huge question marks now stand against Fabio Capello who seems to be making the same mistakes Sven Goran Erikkson made in 2006, and one must wonder at his strange selection and long ball tactics...

World Cup 2010: Return of the Gunfighter: England to Shoot the USA Down?

For many, the World Cup in South Africa will really start when England and the USA take to the pitch in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium for the opening game in Group C. Fabio Capello's men will fancy their chances of making it to the final, and Team USA will provide the first stumbling block.

England is the overwhelming favourite to win this match. However, Bob Bradley's boys won't allow the Three Lions to run roughshod over them and are sure to provide a stern test.

Where To Next for Joe Cole? Manchester United? Arsenal? Tottenham? Liverpool? Real Madrid

As Chelsea romped to their fourth title with an 8-0 win over Wigan, little did Joe Cole know that his final action in a blue shirt would be to provide an assist for the Pensioners last goal.

With the news that Chelsea has decided to dispense themselves with the services of Michael Ballack, Deco, Juliano Belletti, and Cole, it would seem that the English maestro has a whole host of suitors to choose from, but who would be his best choice?

2010 World Cup Group C Preview: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

England bears the weight of expectation on their shoulders once again.

They have drawn, on paper, the easiest of all World Cup groups. Team USA, Algeria, and Slovenia await the former champion...

World Cup 2010: The Only Question Left for Fabio Capello: Shaun Wright Phillips vs. Theo Walcott

Perhaps the biggest decision awaiting Fabio Capello is which right-sided midfielders he will bring to South Africa. He has at least four to choose from: James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Theo Walcott - or maybe even Joe Cole?

History Of The World Cup Football 1930 to 2010

Football has changed greatly from the first World Cup in 1930. Players are fitter than ever before, football gear has changed from baggy shorts to tight fitting jerseys,  rules have changed to suit the attacking team, and believe it or not the roundness of the simple football has become something of a science all in itself.

The balls that were used in the 1930s are very much different from what we are used to now, literally made from a pig's bladder, they are now put together with the science and preciseness of space age technology.

Here is a brief history of the development of the one device that the game cannot exist without.

NICK, NAC, NEC; Steve McClaren's FC Twente Nick The Dutch Title With Win Over NAC As Ajax Beat NEC

Former England manager Steve McClaren has guided FC Twente to their first Eredivisie Dutch Title in their history with a last day win away to NAC Breda. Twente win the league by one point from Martin Jol's Ajax Amsterdam who also won on the final day at home to NEC .

Every Jersey For The 2010 World Cup: The Good The Bad and The Ugly

In June, 32 nations will kick off the world's biggest tournament. There will be a worldwide audience of almost half the planet.

With that captive audience in mind, every competing team has released home and away kits for the month-long tournament.

And with FIFA's new ruling that games will be "home" and "away", every nation will get to wear all of their wares.

Here we take a quick look at some of the jerseys on offer.

The good, the bad, and the downright ugly...

England's Midfield Problems Solved: Everton's Uncapped Spanish Ace Mikael Arteta

With the World Cup just around the corner, England's injury problems are beginning to mount. Ashley Cole and Aaron Lennon are very doubtful while David Beckham is definitely out. However, the solution is simple. Everton's Spanish play-maker: Mikael Arteta.

Storm In a T-Shirt. "Anyone But England" T-Shirts Sell Out After Racism Row...

It would seem that the infamous "Anyone But England" T-shirts have caused a bit of a storm up in Scotland. Police were forced to investigate the shop selling them after receiving a complaint because someone felt the t-shirts were racist...

Euro 2012 Qualifiers Draw: Analyis and Predictions for Every Group

The draw for the qualifying section of Euro 2012 was made this morning and it threw up a few tough groups that the likes of England, Holland, Germany, and France should negotiate but will find the going difficult.

Fifty-one countries entered the draw, with duel host nations, Poland and Ukraine, waiting for them in the finals.

The groups will be contested across the usual league system on a home-and-away basis, with all matches scheduled between September 2010 and October 2011.

South Africa 2010: Analysis of Every World Cup Group

The World Cup draw has produced not one but two "Groups of Death", as well as handing England and Italy the best possible routes to the knockout phases.

Over 190 countries tuned in to watch the World Cup draw as Charlize Theron and FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke drew the eight groups for next year's finals. The duo barely got through the process without throwing the balls at each other, with Valcke in particular making some very strange insulting comments towards the Hollywood star.

But who really cares, let's look at the draw...