Left field

from Reuters Soccer Blog:

Scotland on their way back to London, but England match must wait a while

Scotland's soccer team return to London for the first time since 1999 at the end of this month -- but they won't be playing England at Wembley.

Instead they will face five-times world champions Brazil in a high profile friendly at the Emirates Stadium which should be filled close to its 60,000 capacity.

If that game goes ahead without trouble -- which is the most likely outcome -- it could give added impetus to the English FA's plans to host a one-off "home international" series in 2013 to mark their 150th anniversary.

That could then mark Scotland's return to Wembley for the first time since the stadium was re-opened four years ago.

from Reuters Soccer Blog:

England sail through, but how are their World Cup chances?

Mitch Phillips

Sep 9, 2009 21:21 UTC

So, once again, England qualify in style. The garages can start stocking up on plastic flags of St George, the breweries can breathe a sigh of relief and the tabloids can start their gradual shift from cautious support to the crescendo of expectation that will accompany Fabio Capello and his squad to South Africa next year.

But is there any evidence that "this time, more than any other time, they'll do it right"?

Super Bowl in London? Bring your brollies…

Having been based in China for the last few years, I am no stranger to the giddy ambitions of visionary sports administrators trying to ”grow” their “brands” outside their heartlands.

We’ve had them all here. NBA, Major League Baseball, NFL, the Asian Cricket Council, Leicester Tigers rugby club, a string of Europe’s top soccer clubs, world snooker, both professional tennis tours and various professional golf tours – all aiming to stake a claim to a share of China’s 1.3 billion-strong market.