France ensured the likes of Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Thierry Henry will be at the World Cup in South Africa next year after winning through with a goal that has left Irish fans seething.

There was nothing wrong with the finish from William Gallas, but Thierry Henry admitted using his hand to keep the ball in play and commentators and Irish supporters are already talking of "The Hand of God II" and "The Hand of Henry" in reference to Diego Maradona in 1986.

"Yes, there is handball but I am not the referee," Henry told reporters. "I'm in the box, there are two defenders in front of me. The ball bounced off my hand, the referee did not see it and I played on."

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni called the goal a "great mistake" by Swedish referee Martin Hansson but he chose not to accuse Henry of cheating.

"I told the referee that it is possible to make great mistakes," Trapattoni told a new conference after the game at Stade de France. "It is a bitter evening."

Trapattoni said he felt the referee should have talked to his assistants and to Henry before awarding the goal.

"I am sad because the referee had time to ask the linesman and I am sure he should have asked Henry as well," the Italian said.

The result, 1-1 on the night, gave France a 2-1 aggregate win and saw them join Portugal, Greece and Slovenia as the successful sides on the final night of European qualifying.

So Ribery and the rest will join Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco at the finals, after Portugal booked their place with a more convincing performance away to Bosnia.

Joining the list of big name players to miss out are Andriy Shevchenko, after Ukraine were denied by Greece, and Andrei Arshavin, following Russia's elimination against Slovenia.

With Algeria winning through 1-0 against Egypt in Sudan, 31 of the 32 places have been decided, with Uruguay v Costa Rica to decide the one remaining issue.

France wining through against Ireland was by no means a shock but the manner of their victory will be painful to take for a team that played out of their skins in the French capital.

(Post updated with quotes)

TUESDAY UPDATE: Whatever you think about the penalty which gave Liverpool a 2-2 draw with Birmingham, it certainly made a difference to our prediction league.

Miles Evans got a full five points for correctly predicting that score while he was even more pleased that John Terry ignored some newspaper headlines and secured a 1-0 win for Chelsea over Manchester United.

That game was our double pointer for the weekend so Miles received 10 points and finished as our top scorer for the weekend with 16 overall to jump into fifth place.

One of our contributors, Sean, did even better because he even specified that Terry would grab the only goal with a header. Where's your crystal ball, Sean? I desperately need it! Have an extra five points.

Here are the updated scores for the Reuters Soccer Blog panel. Please let us know how you did in the comments.

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 117, Paul Radford 102, Mitch Phillips 93, Mike Collett 88, Miles Evans 86, Simon Evans 85, Kevin Fylan 78, Mark Meadows 77, Julien Pretot 74, Neil Maidment 67, Asia Sports Desk 55, Justin Palmer 38, Martyn Herman 28, Sonia Oxley 26    

Mark Meadows
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LAST WEEK'S POST: Where would we be without Fridays and the chance to show the world just how much you know about football? Well, you'll find out next weekend because it's the international break, so please, make the most of it today.

Reuters Soccer Blog had a pretty good week last week, as we ran riot with a series of excellent scores. Not me, though. I think I managed five, and I'm falling back into mid-table mediocrity faster than you can say Rafa Benitez and Andriy Voronin.

To briefly recap: have a go at picking the score for this weekend's matches in England's Premier League. You get a point for every correct result, but make that five points if you get the score spot on. We're doing so badly as a panel that you can join in any time and be sure of catching us up within a few weeks. Don't be shy!

Here's the way we stand at the moment:

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 105, Mitch Phillips 89, Paul Radford 87, Mike Collett 76, Simon Evans 74, Mark Meadows 72, Kevin Fylan 71, Miles Evans 70, Julien Pretot 69, Neil Maidment 62, Asia Sports Desk 53, Justin Palmer 38, Martyn Herman 20, Sonia Oxley 10 (plus belated bonus from last week, =15)

Fraid I've lost count of the Rest of the World scores but please let me know where you stand. And don't forget to add in your score from Wednesday...

One final thing: Double points this week on Chelsea v Man Utd, and bonus points available for predicting goals from the Drogmeister or Berbatov. You can lose points as well, though... so think carefully!

SATURDAY:

Aston Villa v Bolton: Patrick Johnston 3-1, Mitch Phillips 3-1, Paul Radford 3-1, Mike Collett 2-0, Simon Evans 2-0, Mark Meadows 2-1, Kevin Fylan 1-1, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-0, Sonia Oxley 1-0

Blackburn v Portsmouth: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford 2-0, Mike Collett 1-2, Simon Evans 0-0, Mark Meadows 1-1, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 1-3, Julien Pretot 2-2, Neil Maidment 1-3, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-2, Sonia Oxley 1-2

Man City v Burnley: Patrick Johnston 3-0, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford 4-0, Mike Collett 2-1, Simon Evans 2-2, Mark Meadows 2-0, Kevin Fylan 4-1, Miles Evans 3-1, Julien Pretot 2-0, Neil Maidment 3-1, Asia Sports Desk 3-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 4-1, Sonia Oxley 3-1

Spurs v Sunderland: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 1-1, Mike Collett 1-1, Simon Evans 3-1, Mark Meadows 3-2, Kevin Fylan 3-0, Miles Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-1, Sonia Oxley 2-1

Wolves v Arsenal: Patrick Johnston 1-4, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 1-3, Mike Collett 1-3, Simon Evans 1-2, Mark Meadows 0-3, Kevin Fylan 0-3, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 0-2, Neil Maidment 0-4, Asia Sports Desk 0-2, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-4, Sonia Oxley 1-3

SUNDAY:

Chelsea v Man Utd: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 2-0, Mike Collett 1-0, Simon Evans 3-2, Mark Meadows 2-0, Kevin Fylan 2-2 (one for Drog, one for Berba), Miles Evans 1-0, Julien Pretot 2-1, Neil Maidment 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 2-2, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 1-1, Sonia Oxley 2-1 (two goals for Drogba)

Hull v Stoke: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-0, Paul Radford 1-1, Mike Collett 0-2, Simon Evans 2-2, Mark Meadows 0-0, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 1-1, Neil Maidment 0-1, Asia Sports Desk 0-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 0-2, Sonia Oxley 2-0

West Ham v Everton: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 2-1, Paul Radford 1-2, Mike Collett 1-1, Simon Evans 3-1, Mark Meadows 2-1, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot 1-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-3, Sonia Oxley 2-2

Wigan v Fulham: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 0-1, Paul Radford 1-1, Mike Collett 0-1, Simon Evans 1-1, Mark Meadows 0-1, Kevin Fylan 1-0, Miles Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot 0-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-0, Sonia Oxley 1-1

MONDAY:

Liverpool v Birmingham: Patrick Johnston 2-0, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 3-0, Mike Collett 3-0, Simon Evans 4-1, Mark Meadows 1-0, Kevin Fylan 4-0, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 3-1, Neil Maidment 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 2-0, Justin Palmer , Martyn Herman 2-1, Sonia Oxley 4-0

PHOTO: Dirk Kuyt tots up his points during the Champions League draw with Olympique Lyon at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, November 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

David Beckham will tread a familiar path once the MLS season is over, joining AC Milan on loan again for a five-month loan spell from January.

Milan have just announced the deal on their website (just in Italian for now), meaning any lingering hopes Premier League clubs had of changing the England midfielder's mind have finally been dashed.

Milan sound thrilled:

"We are very happy to David Beckham in the red and black shirt again after the splendid experience of last season," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani told www.acmilan.com.

"We are sure that this period in Europe will help the player to take part in the next World Cup and then to continue his career at Los Angeles Galaxy, whom we thank for their help."

Beckham's main target is obviously the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as the Milan chief hints. Wonder if he'll be on the plane...

PHOTO: Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham walks on the field during Game 1 of their MLS Cup western conference semifinal soccer playoff series against Chivas USA in Carson, California, November 1, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Monday morning update, by Kevin Fylan: This was the weekend that the Reuters Soccer Blog panel struck back. Mark Meadows managed a stonking 22 points from the 10 games, the first time we've really had a score to shout about. Can anyone beat that? Leader Patrick Johnston got a solid 13, while Neil Maidment has made a great leap forward with 18. In any other week, Neil...

Remember, you bag five points for getting the score spot on, and just one if you got the result right but the wrong score. Here's our updated league table. Where do you stand?

Reuters Soccer Blog panel: Patrick Johnston 105, Mitch Phillips 89, Paul Radford 87, Mike Collett 76, Simon Evans 74, Mark Meadows 72, Kevin Fylan 71, Miles Evans 70, Julien Pretot 69, Neil Maidment 62, Asia Sports Desk 53, Justin Palmer 38, Martyn Herman 20, Sonia Oxley 10 (plus belated bonus from last week, =15)

Original post from Friday: It's that time of the week again. Yes time to humiliate ourselves by hopelessly trying to guess which Liverpool side will turn up, how many players will be out with swine flu and whether Dimitar Berbatov will actually resemble the good player he is supposed to be.

Apart from Mitch Phillips, who downright cheated, last weekend's Premier League predictions contest was a sad tale of woe for all and this time it looks just as tricky.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur is always a feisty affair, just ask any North Londoner (not that there will be many on the pitch). 

Even avid Spurs fans (you know who you are) would be hard pressed to deny that Arsenal play the most beautiful football in England but Tottenham are seriously threatening to break into that top four this term and what better way to show your worth that to win away at the Gunners.

The derby will be our double pointer for this week. Remember one point for the correct result and a massive five for the correct score.

Below are the running scores for our not-so-expert panel at Reuters Soccer Blog Heights followed by this weekend's fixtures and our predictions. Please play along in the comments and see if you can rival our top contributors like Chipking, Sean and maid.

Playing Saturday:

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: Patrick Johnston 5-2, Mitch Phillips 2-2, Paul Radford 2-0, Simon Evans 1-2, Mike Collett 2-3, Kevin Fylan 2-4, Miles Evans 3-1, Julien Pretot 3-1, Mark Meadows 1-1, Asia Sports Desk 3-1, Neil Maidment 2-1, Justin Palmer 2-2, Martyn Herman 3-1, Soxley 2-2

Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea: Patrick Johnston 1-2, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 0-3, Simon Evans 1-2, Mike Collett 0-2, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 0-2, Mark Meadows 1-2, Asia Sports Desk 1-3, Neil Maidment 0-2, Justin Palmer 1-1, Martyn Herman 0-2, Soxley 0-2

Burnley v Hull City: Patrick Johnston 2-0, Mitch Phillips 2-1, Paul Radford 2-0, Simon Evans 3-2, Mike Collett 4-1, Kevin Fylan 2-1, Miles Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot 1-1, Mark Meadows 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 1-2, Neil Maidment 2-0, Justin Palmer 1-1, Martyn Herman 2-1, Soxley 1-1 

Everton v Aston Villa: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Mitch Phillips 1-1, Paul Radford 1-2, Simon Evans 1-2, Mike Collett 1-2, Kevin Fylan 1-0, Miles Evans 2-2, Julien Pretot 1-1, Mark Meadows 1-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-2, Neil Maidment 1-1, Justin Palmer 2-0, Martyn Herman 2-2, Soxley 1-1            

Fulham v Liverpool: Patrick Johnston 1-0, Mitch Phillips 2-2, Paul Radford 1-2, Simon Evans 0-1, Mike Collett 1-2, Kevin Fylan 2-1, Miles Evans 0-1, Julien Pretot 1-2, Mark Meadows 1-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-4, Neil Maidment 1-2, Justin Palmer 2-3, Martyn Herman 2-1, Soxley 0-2            

Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic: Patrick Johnston 1-1, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford 1-2, Simon Evans 2-2, Mike Collett 2-1, Kevin Fylan 0-1, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 1-0, Mark Meadows 0-0, Asia Sports Desk 0-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Justin Palmer 0-0, Martyn Herman 1-1, Soxley 0-1         

Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patrick Johnston 3-0, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford 2-0, Simon Evans 2-1, Mike Collett 1-1, Kevin Fylan 2-0, Miles Evans 4-1, Julien Pretot 2-1, Mark Meadows 1-1, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Neil Maidment 3-1, Justin Palmer 3-1, Martyn Herman 0-0, Soxley 0-0

Sunderland v West Ham United: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Paul Radford 3-1, Simon Evans 2-1, Mike Collett 3-1, Kevin Fylan 0-0, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 2-0, Mark Meadows 2-2, Asia Sports Desk 1-1, Neil Maidment 2-2, Justin Palmer 0-1, Martyn Herman 1-2, Soxley 3-2

Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers: Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 3-1, Paul Radford 1-0, Simon Evans 5-0, Mike Collett 3-0, Kevin Fylan 4-0, Miles Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot 4-0, Mark Meadows 2-0, Asia Sports Desk 3-0, Neil Maidment 3-0, Justin Palmer 3-0, Martyn Herman 1-0, Soxley 2-1          

Playing on Sunday:
 Birmingham City v Manchester City: Patrick Johnston 0-1, Mitch Phillips 2-1, Paul Radford 0-3, Simon Evans 0-2, Mike Collett 1-1, Kevin Fylan 1-2, Miles Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot 2-2, Mark Meadows 1-2, Asia Sports Desk 0-3, Neil Maidment 1-3, Justin Palmer 1-2, Martyn Herman 0-3, Soxley 1-2

PHOTO: Robbie Keane (L) of Tottenham Hotspur is tackled by Arsenal's Bacary Sagna during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London February 8, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Newcastle United fans have put up with a lot over the years but selling "naming rights" for James' Park might be the final straw for some fans.

At 10pm on Tuesday the club announced that Chris Hughton would be made full-time manager and that owner Mike Ashley would no longer be selling and instead would inject 20 million pounds this week.

Slipped in among the back-slapping was the news that the club would welcome bids for the naming rights of the ground the club has occupied with pride since 1892.

Newcastle fans have had years of fun abusing Sunderland for what they consider the pretentious "Stadium of Light" which replaced Roker Park 12 years ago and now their fiercest rivals are poised to return the favour when one of the most famous and atmospheric grounds in the country becomes an advert.

Supporters have become less sensitive about names of new or rebuilt stadiums since the days when Millwall's Den was imaginatively named "The New Den" and selling the naming rights to a new ground, such as the Emirates Stadium, is no longer that controversial.

Slapping a new name on an established ground, however, is another matter entirely.

Manchester United, never slow to miss a commercial opportunity, would surely never consider losing "Old Trafford" even though the sort of fee they could command for such a deal would dwarf anything Newcastle could hope to raise.

Imagine Liverpool's players trotting down the tunnel and reaching up to pat a sign reading "This is the ACME Co Stadium", with the world-famous Anfield relegated to the club museum.

Such decisions are exactly why Ashley is so disliked and distrusted by the rank and file Newcastle fans, something that cannot be changed by donning a replica shirt and downing a few pints amongst them.

The forum of the city's Evening Chronicle newspaper website was overflowing with comments from angry fans on Wednesday.

Though some fans said it was not a major issue and that the money would be welcome, the overall feeling was very opposed. "Magpie5uk" led the way with the following heartfelt pros:

"This completely detached buffoon has to be stopped. He is unscrupulous, and will not stop until he has taken everything that not only fans, but people of Newcastle in general, appreciate. He is systematically destroying everything that means anything to the fans.
For instance:
1...Our Premier League Status.
2...Our top players.
3...Kevin Keegan.
4...Alan Shearer.
5...Our dignity.
6...Our humility.
7...Our enjoyment of Saturday Afternoons.
8...(AND POSSIBLY THE WORST OF ALL!) Our heritage, with this DISGRACEFUL decision to sell the name of the ground!!!
This man MUST be stopped!!"

PHOTO: Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley (C) at St James' Park, Feb 1, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

A quick look around the blogosphere suggests that for many England fans the idea of watching the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in front of a computer screen at the mercy of an ISP, or at a crammed cinema, sounds about as appealing as making the long trip to Dnipropetrovsk.

But do not despair, England fans, because there is an option for those of you determined to watch it on telly.

Croatia's HRT 2 state television, also viewable in Serbia on cable, is showing the game live, so here is your chance to combine a bit of light football watching with an autumn dip in the Adriatic somewhere along Croatia's mesmerising coast, or an evening spent sampling Belgrade's unique and vibrant nightlife, epitomised by boat-bars and clubs along the Danube.

And fear not that the Croatian faithful might have a go at you after their team's recent 5-1 drubbing at Wembley. They will be praying for an England win that would leave their boys in the driving seat for a runners-up spot in Group Six.

PHOTO: A subscription page is shown on a laptop computer at a cafe in central London October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

It's that time of the week again, folks. The best brains at Reuters Soccer Blog are off, so it's just the usual crew of no-hopers here to embarrass ourselves trying to predict the outcome of the weekend Premier League action, and with no help from that lottery bobbins bloke.

To recap: with one point available for getting a correct result -- and make that a whopping five for the correct score -- there are at least 50 points up for grabs each week. Given that most teams have played five matches the total number of points a perfect tipster would have got by now would be well over 200.

Nobody's perfect, of course (The Beatles released Wild Honey Pie, remember) but you might expect someone to have done a bit better than the following rogue's gallery:

Reuters Soccer Blog: Kevin Fylan 35, Paul Radford 34, Patrick Johnston 34, Simon Evans 32, Miles Evans 30, Mitch Phillips 24, Mike Collett 18, Neil Maidment 14, Julien Pretot 14, Asia Sports Desk 10, Mark Meadows 8

The Rest of the World: How are you doing? Maid? Chipking? Angel? Have you overtaken us yet?

Now, just to add a bit of spice here, I'm introducing a Game of the Weekend feature, which will carry double points for anyone getting it right, de-merits for those getting it wrong and other bonuses and penalties entirely at my whim and discretion.

This week, it's Manchester United v Manchester City. So choose your score carefully...

Burnley  v Sunderland: Patrick Johnston: 0-2; Mike Collett: 2-2; Asian Sports Desk: 1-1; Kevin Fylan: 2-0; Miles Evans: 1-1; Justin Palmer: 2-2; Simon Evans: 1-0; Neil Maidment: 1-2; Mark Meadows: 0-1; Paul Radford: 1-2; Mitch Phillips: 3-2; Julien Pretot: 2-2

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic: Patrick Johnston: 3-1; Mike Collett: 4-1; Asian Sports Desk: 3-1; Kevin Fylan: 2-1; Miles Evans: 3-0; Justin Palmer: 2-0; Simon Evans: 4-1; Neil Maidment: 3-0; Mark Meadows: 2-0; Paul Radford: 1-1; Mitch Phillips: 4-0; Julien Pretot: 4-1 

Aston Villa v Portsmouth: Patrick Johnston: 3-1; Mike Collett: 3-0; Asian Sports Desk: 3-0; Kevin Fylan: 1-0; Miles Evans: 2-2; Justin Palmer: 3-0; Simon Evans: 2-0; Neil Maidment: 3-0; Mark Meadows: 1-0; Paul Radford: 3-0; Mitch Phillips: 1-0; Julien Pretot: 2-0 

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City: Patrick Johnston: 0-1; Mike Collett: 0-1; Asian Sports Desk: 0-1; Kevin Fylan: 1-2; Miles Evans: 1-3; Justin Palmer: 2-1; Simon Evans: 1-1; Neil Maidment: 1-1; Mark Meadows: 2-1; Paul Radford: 1-0; Mitch Phillips: 0-0; Julien Pretot: 0-1 

Hull City v Birmingham City: Patrick Johnston: 2-0; Mike Collett: 0-0; Asian Sports Desk: 2-2; Kevin Fylan: 1-2; Miles Evans: 1-2; Justin Palmer: 1-1; Simon Evans: 1-1; Neil Maidment: 1-0; Mark Meadows: 0-0; Paul Radford: 1-1; Mitch Phillips: 0-0; Julien Pretot: 1-0 

West Ham United v Liverpool: Patrick Johnston: 1-1; Mike Collett: 1-2; Asian Sports Desk: 1-2; Kevin Fylan: 2-1; Miles Evans: 2-1; Justin Palmer: 1-3; Simon Evans: 2-2; Neil Maidment: 0-2; Mark Meadows: 1-3; Paul Radford: 1-2; Mitch Phillips: 0-1; Julien Pretot: 1-2 

Playing on Sunday

Manchester United v Manchester City: Patrick Johnston: 3-1; Mike Collett: 2-1; Asian Sports Desk: 1-2; Kevin Fylan: 4-0; Miles Evans: 2-0; Justin Palmer: 2-0; Simon Evans: 1-2; Neil Maidment: 2-1; Mark Meadows: 2-1; Paul Radford: 3-0; Mitch Phillips: 1-0; Julien Pretot: 2-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham: Patrick Johnston: 1-2; Mike Collett: 2-1; Asian Sports Desk: 1-1; Kevin Fylan: 0-0; Miles Evans: 1-1; Justin Palmer: 1-1; Simon Evans: 0-0; Neil Maidment: 0-2; Mark Meadows: 1-1; Paul Radford: 1-2; Mitch Phillips: 1-0; Julien Pretot: 1-2

Everton v Blackburn Rovers: Patrick Johnston: 2-0; Mike Collett: 0-0; Asian Sports Desk: 2-1; Kevin Fylan: 2-0; Miles Evans: 3-1; Justin Palmer: 3-1; Simon Evans: 2-1; Neil Maidment: 2-0; Mark Meadows: 1-0; Paul Radford: 4-1; Mitch Phillips: 1-1; Julien Pretot: 3-1 

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur: Patrick Johnston: 3-1; Mike Collett: 1-1; Asian Sports Desk: 4-1; Kevin Fylan: 2-2; Miles Evans: 2-0; Justin Palmer: 2-1; Simon Evans: 2-1; Neil Maidment: 2-1; Mark Meadows: 2-1; Paul Radford: 2-1; Mitch Phillips: 2-2; Julien Pretot: 2-0

We'd love it, love it, if you have a go as well ... Who knows, if we get plenty of entries we might start thinking about prizes...

Canary Wharf Kev

SOCCER PIC OF THE WEEK: Austria Vienna's Szabolcs Safar fails to save a ball from Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente (not pictured) during their Europa League match at San Mames in Bilbao, September 17, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Zolles

The Champions League is back and our reporters are currently wringing out their wet things (Mitch Phillips at Chelsea)/basking in the evening sunshine by the River Manzanares (Iain Rogers at Atletico) and undergoing all climactic variations in between.

Tonight's first tranche of eight matches includes a repeat of the very first Champions League final, with AC Milan visiting Marseille, plus the European debut of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka for Real Madrid, with the Spaniards visiting Zurich.

We also have Manchester United at Besiktas, Wolfsburg hosting CSKA, Atletico at home to APOEL, Bayern Munich visiting Maccabi Haifa and Juventus against Bordeaux.

We'll have every goal as they go in here, plus a few bits of commentary from me, and our reporters if the comms hold up, along the way.

I really appreciate comments, so please give your views in the comment section below. And can you name the player in the photo...?

 - - - -

FC Zurich 2 Real Madrid 5: Cristiano Ronaldo responded to some less than flattering chants among the home fans by scoring from a free kick from the edge of the area. 1-0 in the 27th minute and Real Madrid are on their way to, well, Madrid. Seven minutes later and it's 2-0 Real. This time Raul, who tapped in Gonzalo Higuain's shot and is closing in on that record for goals in the European Cup. Let me have a rifle through the stats book... But in the mean time, Higuain has bagged the third himself. Too easy for Real... or is it?

The crowd livens up again with a 64th minute penalty from Xavier Margairaz and a minute later Silvan Aegerter makes it 2-3. Game on? Well, it got nervy for Real bu another free kick from Ronaldo sealed matters, with Guti's effort in the 95th minute the cake icing.

Marseille 1 Milan 2: First goal of the 2009-10 edition of the Champions League goes to Milan, and Filippo Inzaghi. A superb cross from Seedorf for Inzaghi, left unmarked at far post, and he taps in from close range. 1-0 to the Italians in the 27th minute. Marseille level four minutes after the restart through the former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze, who heads home a Benoit Cheyrou free kick. 2-1 to Milan with another Inzaghi goal with 16 minutes left on the clock.

Wolfsburg 3 CSKA 1: Wolfsburg have taken to the Champions League like a duck to water. The Brazilian Grafite, a much underrated player I remember well from my time in Germany, scored the first two goals, the first after 35 minutes, the second a penalty five minutes later. Alan Dzagoev pulls one back with 13 minutes to go. But Grafite completes his hat-trick three minutes from time and surely this is over now!

Chelsea 1 Porto 0: Don't know what happened to my earlier udpate. Chelsea are ahead in the second half after Nicoals Anelka saw his first effort stopepd and then managed to fire on from a tricky angle.

Juventus 1 Bordeaux 1: Vincenzo Iaquinta puts Juventus up in the 63rd minute but Jaroslav Plasil evens things up with 15 minutes to go.

Maccabi Haifa 0 Bayern Munich 3: It's raining goals now. The Germans are away thanks to a goal from Daniel van Buyten. Most of these matches going to form now and Bayern duly wrap up the win with two late goals from Thomas Mueller. Not a bad week for Mueller, who also scored two as Bayern beat Dortmund 5-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Besiktas 0 Manchester United 1. United are finally awake. It was a powerful shot by Nani that led to the goal in the 77th minute. The keeper parried it and Paul Scholes nodded in off the post, from a reasonable way out. Good header that.

The only match to finish goalless is Atletico Madrid v APOEL.

PHOTO: A mystery Chelsea player at training in Cobham, south of London, September 14, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

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"?

Do England really have a team capable of getting beyond the quarter-finals, let alone winning the thing?

Points in favour:

1. The rest of the world aren't so hot at the moment. Brazil, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are going along pretty nicely but Argentina, France, Portugal and even Italy have got problems. None of them looks unbeatable.

2. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. These are players truly deserving the "world class" tag and when fit and on form provide England with a deadly attacking triangle capable of undoing the very best of defences.

3. Capello. The Italian's calm authority has permeated a squad previously drowning in its own self-satisfaction. There shouldn't be any idiotic selections and once in South Africa this squad will be focused solely on the task in hand -- and that won't be accompanying their wives on shopping trips to Sandton.

4. A winter World Cup. England haven't played in one since 1962 in Chile. For all the high-tech kits they roll out ever two years and for all the efforts and intervention of foreign coaches, England's all-action approach is not suited to boiling temperatures.

5. It's about time.

Points against.

1. The number one problem. Capello says David James is his first choice goalkeeper but even if the 39-year-old year old regains fitness and has a great season his history of high-profile calamities will be in the back of everyone's mind as England advance.

England have suffered previously from hanging on too long to ageing goalkeepers, with the concrete boots of Peter Shilton (1990) and David Seaman (2002) leaving indelible images of inaction.

The back-up cast of Robert Green, Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, Ben Foster and Joe Hart all have their talents but none inspires total confidence.

2. Second striker. Emile Heskey seems the current first-choice partner for Rooney but few teams win a World Cup with a forward who is allergic to goals. Jermain Defoe has staked an early claim to replace him but sharp finisher though he is he does not link well. Carlton Cole is surely not the answer. Peter Crouch offers all sorts of options, scores goals, has great control and an incisive pass and defenders don't like playing against him. However, he does not seem to be Capello's favourite, which leaves an extraordinary amount of pressure on Rooney.

3. Defence. Ashley Cole is superb and the John Terry/Rio Ferdinand partnership has proved reliable, even if showing worrying signs of positional wanderings of late. However, Glen Johnson looks like a winger forced to borrow a number two shirt and opposition coaches will attack him mercilessly.

4. Strength in depth (lack thereof). England, without Rooney in Portugal and Germany, were a team heading home. Another injury or red card for the maestro will again end their hopes at a stroke. The squad players generally look a short on class and World Cup finals are rarely won with the 11 players a manager would have pencilled in at the start of a tournament.

Maybe Capello has enough about him to craft a team able to triumph in 10 months' time but, as ever, it looks an extraordinarily difficult task.

It’s hard to believe Spain striker David Villa will not be playing in the Champions League again this season.

The Valencia frontman was in irresistible form against Belgium in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday when the European champions romped to a 5-0 victory in La Coruna.

Villa won and then missed a first-half penalty, before making amends by scoring two and setting up another two as Spain maintained their 100 percent record in qualifying to all but assure themselves of a place in South Africa next year.

Villa was already Spain’s second highest scorer of all time and now has 33 goals from 51 appearances –- just 11 short of Raul’s national record of 44.

What makes his tally even more impressive is that the former owner of Spain’s number seven shirt, Raul, bagged his total over 102 appearances.

Villa has time on his side, he turns 28 in December, and is on course to set a new Spanish benchmark at the World Cup finals.

But at club level, Villa will only be playing in the Europa League after Valencia finished sixth in La Liga last season.

It isn’t as though his talents have not been noticed by Europe’s leading clubs. He was tournament top scorer at Euro 2008, and has averaged almost 20 goals a season in La Liga with Real Zaragoza and then Valencia over the last six years.

Financially-troubled Valencia said they would consider offers that were “scandalously scandalous” over the summer as the big clubs circled.

But reports said Villa was keen to stay in Spain, which left big-spending Real Madrid and treble-winners Barcelona as his only possible destinations.

Real and Barca landed Cristiano Ronaldo (94 million euros) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (66 million euros) respectively, but neither were willing to stump up the money for one of the world’s most complete strikers, despite both clubs registering their interest.

For Real president Florentino Perez, who came closest to landing Villa but baulked at paying more than 40 million euros, the reasoning was thus:

“(Ronaldo and Kaka) are players that have won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA world player of the year awards, who I describe as 'investment' players because they have an international reach which others maybe haven't reached," he said in June.

Villa could be accused of a lack of ambition by wanting to stay in Spain, but Real or Barca may live to regret not signing him come next May.

PHOTO: Spain's David Villa celebrates a goal against Belgium in Coruna, Sept.5 REUTERS/Juan Medina