Perhaps Owen is just making sure we remember who he is. The latest prognosis is that he will miss all of next season.

That is why Le Pen was moaning about the French team- another reason for wanting a French win.

For a footballing preview, this one by David Pleat in the Guardian this morning is the best I have read although I disagree with some of his player rating numbers: http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/...1815722,00.html

Yes folks, it is the most eagerly awaited game of the year. The one we all hoped and prayed for, not. The Krauts are vanquished to play Christina's diving school in the 3rd place play-off (we'll all be watching that one won't we?), SGE and Walcott but a distant memory and South America's (where's that?) finest were no match for the colonial masters. That said the Brits' spin-offs were long gone- only Ghana and Australia surviving to the knock-out where they got knocked-out and America and Trinidad & Tobago proving to be each others' equals. So Frogs v Wops. Snail's and pasta and not a good time to be a clove of garlic in Berlin tomorrow night. Far more erudite and better footballers than me will cover column hectares in anticipation so I will just say this. FRANCE- Bartez left his clown's make-up behind but perhaps he's saving the outsized boots, spinning bow tie and shiny nose for the big top? The defence has been effective and Makelele has rolled back the years in midfield. Ribery went from overblown to downright dangerous in the course of the World Cup and he can always scare the Italians by just looking at them. We haven't yet seen a sublime Henry moment and he's not been as effective as he can be- yet. ITALY- Buffon looks impregnable, the defence are achieving miracles for such little guys and why did Materazzi let a class of four year olds draw on his arms? What I really admire about the midfield is that when it gets tight, the pace of the pinged passes safe in the knowledge that the recipient will instantly control the ball and ping it on. On that basis the Italians are the most technically gifted team at this World Cup. Up front, all the Italians are dangerous without a single stand-out player. A lot is made of age and fitness of the two teams but this is the World Cup Final so they'll go the distance. For the football purist, this should be a treat- the ref is a good one (boohoo Rooney) so the game should flow. Whether we will get exciting explosive goal mouth action I doubt as the defensive midfield/defences are just so good. Which alphabetically leaves us at Z or even better ZZ. Simply the most technically gifted player I've seen in my lifetime and to think if Uncle Jack had carried on spending in the summer of '95.... I'm going for France, for Zinadine Zidane and for a quiet night's sleep in Malta on Sunday night.

I'd love to see Dunny come back to Rovers but I think that comment is tempting fate USA! As for the invitation to Oklahoma to do the equivalent of an Alcoholics Anonymous confession, alcoholism is controllable but I don't think being Portuguese is.

Not surprised about Real going wholesale to the Italian clubs' scrapyard- they need half a dozen class players to live with Batca next season. The needs of the other mega clubs are nowhere near as great which is why Rovers should be in with as good a chance as the other vultures. That said, if Mido turns us down, it will not enhance the club's credibility. Knowing the way Rovers work, the way the Mido issue has gone quiet is slightly encouraging.

OK, the bigger vultures are Real, Barca, Arsenal, Mancs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern. Do those seven have the vacancies to take Juve's 15 man first team squad? No, I don't think so either. Then there is AC's squad up for grabs- are the seven big vultures taking four super-paid super-ego'd players each? No Outside of those seven clubs, Rovers can broadly hold their own in terms of transfer attractiveness. That's why we are linked to the AC full back (makes a change to the Neill to AC stories anyway).

Such as?

JUVENTUS RELEGATED From the Times of Malta: Juventus lawyer seeks lighter punishment – papers [06/07/2006 - 10:06] Juventus believe relegation to Italy's second division could be an acceptable punishment in an alleged match-fixing scandal which has rocked the country's soccer establishment, newspapers reported. Juventus lawyer Cesare Zaccone was quoted as saying that, if the club were found guilty, 'an acceptable punishment could be that of the other clubs, in other words (relegation to) the second division with points deducted'. A prosecutor has charged Juventus and three other clubs with sporting fraud and has recommended the Serie A champions be sent down to at least the third division while AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio be demoted to the second division. So if the defense are arguing for "only one relegation and points reduction", Juve are not going to be playing in Serie A or Europe next season. So lets get stuck into that player list again.

Poor deluded lechuck. Big Phil took a Portuguese side way their natural exit point in this World Cup and won the last World Cup with an inferior Brasil side to this year's. Coaches matter. I would have been horrified if Rovers had appointed McLaren. Why shouldn't I feel the same way about him running England?

Here is a real world way of working it out. What would Coventry have offered? Perhaps the fizzy pop average of £175K a year plus a bit. Rovers: "you can go to Coventry or come here for a bit less but with the possibility of Premiership striker earnings (£1.5m a year) if you perform like a Premiership striker".

I think we are missing the point. There were no other English-born strikers good enough to take.

Italy much the better side and two wonderful goals after two strikes on the woodwork. Only problem is the blessed Italians carcading all round the island. Its bedlam here- no sleep tonight

Capello leaves Juve: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football...ello/index.html

Thanks- do go there. It is as diverse as China but less than 1% the size!

And that comes down to rank bad self-indulgent management. Gerard didn't look like like that taking penalties for Raffa in CL 2005? Lampard is hardly going to tap the ball to Brad when Chelski get a pen at Ewood is he? etc etc etc The difference between the Portuguese and English is that they had professionalism and pride.

Good point Eddie. If the under-performing England players hadn't carelessly tossed away their chance, Ewood would have been full 30,000 every week next season. Look what happened to Div 1 attendances in 66/7.

Go to The Sunday Times Tuesday, July 4, 2006 Breaking News You can't try me, key defendant tells Italy tribunal [04/07/2006 - 12:05] The first day of questioning in Italy's biggest soccer trial began with one of the most high-profile defendants arguing he should play no further part in proceedings. The lawyer representing former Italian Football Federation (FIGC) official Paolo Bergamo announced that his client had surrendered his membership of the FIGC and was not therefore liable to be tried by the sports tribunal. Bergamo used to conduct the draw that assigned referees to Serie A matches. 'This morning Bergamo has taken the difficult decision to resign from the FIGC after 40 years of activity,' said Gaetano Scalise. Scalise criticised the tribunal's decision to allow intercepted telephone calls to be used as evidence and attacked the 'media circus' around the trial. Bergamo has been at the heart of the scandal since telephone intercepts revealed him discussing refereeing appointments with former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi during the 2004-05 season. Four clubs - champions Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio - as well as 26 officials face charges of sporting fraud and unfair conduct at the trial in Rome's Olympic Stadium. Clubs risk being thrown out of the top Serie A league and European competition if found guilty of conspiring with refereesto rig matches. Individuals face bans. From the Times of Malta

"best in Premiership bar none SINCE 2001" Grabbi was IN 2001. Anyway, Roberts cost us £2m after Whelan knocked £1m off the asking price according to the Mirror.

If Jeffers and Roberts manage 8 goals each in the Premiership next season alongside 8 more from Shefki, I'll take all three donkeys very happily. Again, its worth pointing out that the worst over-priced donkey buying was presided over by Hodgson/Kidd and funded by Jack Walker himself. Since Jack's death, the inbound transfer record of Souness and Hughes backed by the Board has been remarkably good. In fact, I'd say in terms of transfer spend not wasted, Rovers are probably the best in the Premiership bar none since 2001. £2m lost on the Scottish mammy's boy but I'm struggling to put any other transfer outlay in the wasted category.

Is Jeffers an improvement on Jansen as he will be numerically the player he is replacing? I am quietly excited about this signing. It's as close to a no lose gamble as you can get in Premiership football.

Far from the non-Blackburn folks cheering up the Blackburn depressives, it seems that misery spreads and contaminates.... (I'll duck now) I am Ok with Roberts' signing as it would appear we have done a decent deal given the way it is being reported. Whilst Whelan is thoroughly unhappy with Roberts, he certainly doesn't have animosity towards Rovers in general or cause for complaint about conduct in this deal. I am not convinced by Roberts as being much more than a peripheral/squad player but as such in a club hopefully playing 60 matches next season, he will be invaluable. Hope Roberts keeps his BBC website column going- he was a decent read. My view of like-for-like replacements are: Jansen replaced by Jeffers Dickov replaced by Roberts Bellamy replaced by ? and we might get another ? up front as well Gallagher might have a bit part to play next season but Stoke seem to be very interested in another loan spell.

Completely agree. Yesterday was gut wrenchingly frustrating but not painful.

Spoilsport. I want all the hate figures atbthe Mancs. Stay at OT with your lovely uncle RFW Christina!

Rover6, you are spot on backing Walcott. He had a much better World Cup than Frank Lampard and scored as many as Rooney and Owen put together. The kid was a vital member...