Manchester United Tour Reflects English Soccer's Odd Priorities

PHILADELPHIA -- In between the first and second games of his club's preseason tour through North America, Manchester United  manager Alex Ferguson complained about the lack of a winter break during the English Premier League season.

"Most Decembers we play between eight and nine games at the worst time of the year. The pitches are heavier, the weather is worse and then in the second half of the season you'll find a lot of players at all clubs carrying strains, pulls, but because of the importance of the games, they keep on playing," he said.

"And then when they get to the end of the season and have a major tournament like a World Cup or European Championship they are not 100% fit. They can't be. They need that rest factor which brings the energy back into the system. Germany always takes that month-long break in January and they always seem to do better in World Cups than anyone ever expects." Sir Alex may be on to something.

Thierry Henry Makes Himself at Home in New York Debut

HARRISON, N.J. -- Thierry Henry clearly is thrilled to be a New Yorker. In fact, he's so eager to adopt the big city lifestyle that he rode the cramped, sweaty PATH train from Manhattan, where he's staying in a hotel, out to this industrial Jersey suburb on the Passaic River ahead of his Thursday night debut in a Major League Soccer uniform. The PATH is no place for a prima donna.

"It was the quickest way to come to the game," he said. "I was on the train with my friends, with all the fans. It was quite an experience. It was the quickest way to come, so that's how I came. It was cool."

French Coach Blanc Drops All 23 Players Due to World Cup Finish

PARIS (AP) -- France coach Laurent Blanc will drop all 23 World Cup players for his first match next month as collective punishment for the team's embarrassing fiasco in South Africa.

The French federation said Friday in a statement it had granted Blanc permission to suspend the players at the coach's request.
France was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup, failing to win a game. The players also refused to train as a protest after Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home following an expletive-laced tirade at then-coach Raymond Domenech.Blanc refused to speak to reporters when he left the federation's headquarters Friday.

Kansas City Beats Manchester United

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Davy Arnaud and Kei Kamara scored first-half goals and the Kansas City Wizards beat Manchester United 2-1 Sunday in front of the largest crowd to see a soccer match in Kansas City.

A crowd of 52,342, the biggest for Manchester United on its North American tour so far -- eclipsed the 37,319 who witnessed a World Cup qualifier here in 2001.
The crowd may have also been drawn partly out of curiosity to see the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium, which was hosting its first event after a $325 million makeover.

Menezes accepts offer to coach Brazil

SAO PAULO: Mano Menezes has become the new coach of the Brazil national team, one day after first-choice Muricy Ramalho turned down the job because of his contract with Fluminense.

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Mano Menezes became the new coach of Brazil's national soccer team Saturday, one day after first choice Muricy Ramalho turned down the job because of his contract with Fluminense.

Mano Menezes in June 2009

Menezes has been coaching Corinthians but will now replace Dunga, who was fired days after Brazil lost to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.

Alonso leads controversial Ferrari one-two

Fernando Alonso, center, Sebastian Vettel, right, and Felipe Massa celebrate after the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring racetrack in Hockenheim, Germany, on Sunday. (EPA)

HOCKENHEIM, Germany: Fernando Alonso led a Ferrari one-two in the German Grand Prix on Sunday after denying Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa an emotional victory one year on from a near-fatal crash. While the Spaniard celebrated his second triumph of the season, and 23rd of his career, it was accompanied by a whiff of controversy with Massa sent a veiled message to allow his teammate through.

"So, Fernando is faster than you," Massa's race engineer Rob Smedley told the Brazilian on the 47th of the 67 laps after his driver had led from the start.

Alonso then passed two laps later, prompting Smedley to say to Massa: "Good lad. Just stick with it now. Sorry." Massa's disappointment, evident at the finish when he shrugged off Alonso's attempted embrace as they stepped out of their cars, was matched by that of the home fans hoping to see Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel win from pole position.

Kenny Dalglish tips Fernando Torres to stay at Anfield

Torres suffers groin injury in the World Cup final

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says he hopes striker Fernando Torres will commit his future to the club.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield, but Dalglish said he felt the arrival of new boss Roy Hodgson could persuade him to stay.

Captain Steven Gerrard has since said he expects to stay at the club, while Joe Cole has signed from Chelsea.