FOOTBALL is not normally one's cup of tea, but Prince Charles was happy to turn pundit on a visit to Italy yesterday.
The heir to the throne praised England coach Fabio Capello as a recent example of Italian influence in Britain. The prince was reviewing cases where the history between the two countries has been linked, from Julius Caesar landing in England to Shake
speare setting some of his works in Italy.
"A more recent example of the British drawing on Italian inspiration is on the football pitch, where the record of England under Fabio Capello suggests it just might be one of the most successful collaborations yet," Charles said during a speech in Rome.
Under Capello's command, England have won their first five World Cup qualifying matches, but Charles noted that England are giving something back – David Beckham, who has been making an impact since joining AC Milan in January. "And again, to prove trade is a two-way relationship, I understand that one of our own footballers has been making quite a good impression in Milan this year," Charles joked.
Whatever next, a place on the sofa on Match of the Day 2?
100,000 seats but no fansA SURREAL quality came to Mexican football on Sunday as a league game between clubs America and Tecos was played in a nearly empty Aztec Stadium, the giant 100,000-seat facility closed to the public because of the outbreak of swine flu.
Tecos won 2-1 with only a handful of team and stadium officials watching in the cavernous stadium, one of the largest in the world used to host football matches.
The Mexican Football Federation ordered two other weekend matches be played in empty stadiums.
Corey plans to drink to 2010 AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin is to get his first look at the 2010 course this week when he plays the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.
However, it's not just the greens and fairways that Pavin is looking to get a taste of. "I look forward to bringing my wife Lisa to Wales and connecting with the people," he said. "Don't be surprised to find us hanging out in pubs enjoying friendly banter about the possibilities of 2010."
The image of the Pavins cruising the hostelries of Newport knocking back the Brains with the locals is certainly an intriguing one.
TALES FROM THE TABS
MICK'S FIRM NOTHE Sun reports that former Celtic defender Mick McCarthy would love to see his old club and Rangers move to England – but concedes the idea is a non-starter. McCarthy, who has just guided Wolves back into the Premier League as Championship, er, champions, said: "The Old Firm would be a really big draw in the Premiership but they can't just get shot of two English teams to make way for those two. "There is a thought that it would destroy the league set-up in Scotland but I'm not convinced of that. I think it would suddenly become more competitive. But I don't think it's going to happen."
That will come as a relief to former referee Kenny Clark, who addressed the issue in his Sun column and pleaded: "Won't someone think of the refs!" Clark wrote: "One particularly important group of people haven't been considered – Scottish referees.
"I am convinced Celtic and Rangers packing for England could lead to our referees being forever snubbed by Uefa and Fifa – the leftover matches in Scotland dismissed as backwater in status."
The full article contains 589 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
