Jermain Defoe hailed Rooney after his first England hat-trick on a plate on Friday night. Jermain Defoe stole the headlines as England European Championship qualifying campaign got off to the ideal start with a 4-0 win over Bulgaria. But the match also witnessed Wayne Rooney rebirth as a force on the international stage, the Manchester United star finally shaking off the cobwebs to have a hand in all four of England goals. Wayne Rooney was largely generous in playing in Defoe for England third and fourth goals, something which did not go unacknowledged by the Tottenham striker.

It is always nice feeling when you play with a partner and they want you to score the third goal, Jermain Defoe further said. When I was on the second, Wayne said to me, ‘Keep going and you will get the hat-trick. And when I did, he was the first men to come over. It is really great and what a feeling. It was a fantastic feeling, to score a hat-trick and to win the game for your country. Regardless of starting together plenty of times in the past, Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney have never before hit it off in such spectacular fashion.

Acknowledging this, Jermain said: I have always said sometimes it takes time to get things on the right track. In the training camp, we played together all week and it’s been very good. He was involved in all my goals so it was really brilliant. Jermain Defoe hobbled off after completing his hat-trick but dismissed any doubts of an injury that would rule him out of next qualifier in Switzerland. I couldn’t even rejoice to be honest, because I got a kick. He was explaining his ankle rather than the groin that he postponed surgery on last week. It’s fine and Just a precaution. He added of cancelling his operation: I am glad I didn’t have it now and it’s been a little bit sore but I have done a lot of work in the gym and a lot of core work to try to improve it and tonight I didn’t get a reaction.

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Javier Mascherano has hit out at the rumors surrounding his move from Liverpool to Barcelona. The Argentinean player thinks that he was justified in refusing to play against Manchester City. Javier said:  I was not right to play against Manchester City. I am sure Liverpool will always be in my heart but my time there has finished. He also slammed Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson about “lies” spoken about him. Roy Hodgson knows very well about  truth, Javier Mascherano said in quotes referenced by the Guardian. This is a joyful moment for me so now is not the time to say it, but a lot of lies have been told about me and I will respond to them.

Last year Liverpool would not let me leave. There was no other way they would sell me. They had Alonso and me, and they would only let Alonso leave. The 26 years old said I was disappointed not to be able to sign last season. When the world’s best club in calling you, then it is something that you want to happen. I have pen down for the only club who really wanted me.

In no moment I never think that Inter was a possibility. Rafa valued my skills and possibly that is why people started saying that I could go there but this is the only club that pushed to sign me. But the Javier was quick to reiterate his love for the Liverpool fans. He said; I hope they get back into the Champions League as soon as possible. I still have a lot of love for the fans of the club and I always will.

Refuting claims that his move was influenced by a bigger pay package, Javier Mascherano claimed he had taken a 20 % pay cut on his £80,000 a week wages to join Barcelona. I have come to the finest team in the world. He also admired new team mate Lionel Messi and he is a very special person. I have been very close with Messi for the past two or three years. He also explained me everything about Barcelona.

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Rana Naved-ul-Hasan born in February 28, 1978 in Sheikhupura, Punjab he is a cricketer who plays for the Pakistan in Test, One Day International and T20 matches. He is also playing cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in England. He is a right arm fast medium bowler skilled of generating good pace with late swing, he is a real strike bowler although prone to leaking runs. He often bowls the reverse swinging Yorkers at one day cricket and has an excellent control over change of pace. Rana Naveed is also a useful attacking lower order batsman with 3 first class hundreds. Rana Naveed ul Hassan has only made the occasional Test appearance for Pakistan with modest success, having to compete with the likes of Shoaib akhtar, Mohammad asif, Umar Gul, Muhammad Amir and Mohammad Sami for a place in the side. So as a result he has become somewhat of an ODI specialist player. His career best figures are 6 for 27, made in a sensational victory over India in Jamshedpur.

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Gabriel Agbonlahor has given Aston Villa a boost up by declaring he wants to stay with the club for the rest of his career. Villa Academy product Gabriel Agbonlahor is the club longest serving first team player even though he is just 23. And the England striker and local-born player have spelt out his eagerness to stay at Villa on a long term basis. Gabriel Agbonlahor said: I saw in the programme stats the other day that I am the longest serving player. I believe I am one of the senior statesmen and I might bring that up with some of the lads. But I am a local lad and you look at people like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. However, they don’t want to leave their clubs and it is same with me. Being from the area I have got no reason to ever leave. I am just enjoying my football here and hopefully it will continue. Gabriel Agbonlahor was Aston Villa second highest scorer with 16 goals last season. He missed the first three games of the existing campaign with injury before returning and scoring in the Europa League.  Gabriel Agbonlahor was substituted with a tight calf but is expected to be fit to face Everton at Villa Park on Sunday.

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Wesley Sneijder believes Mourinho will replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United when he steps down. Sir Alex Ferguson has been in charge for almost 24 years at Old Trafford, overseeing the most triumphant period in the club history. But speculation carries on to rage about who will take over when he does finally decide to call it a day. Wesley Sneijder who won last season Champions League under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan says the self styled Special One wants the Old Trafford job next.

The Dutch World Cup star said; I have had many profound and long conversations with Jose Mourinho and I would put money on him taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson. I know the job he would want is to be Manchester United boss. He further said; to be honest, he is most likely the only coach in the world who is capable of taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson. When Sir Alex Ferguson retires, then in my mind, it is a deal already done in people heads. One world class manager leaves and another one take over. I know Sir Alex Ferguson will have a huge say in who takes over from him and even though they have their differences there is a big mutual respect. Jose Mourinho is now in charge of Real Madrid has made small secret of his desire to return to the Premier League following his ultra successful stint at Chelsea. Wesley Sneijder added: I know how eager he is to get back to the Premier League. When he talked about it, he was like a little kid. He was also much energized and it really turns him on.

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Roger Federer warmed up for the US Open title in style by clinching his 17th Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati. The world number two got the better of home favorite Mardy Fish after coming out on top in a war of abrasion. In a match dominated by the serve, Roger Federer secured the only break deep into the deciding set to clinch a 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 victory in two hours and 40 minutes. The outcome means Roger Federer will be in perfect form to regain the crown at Flushing Meadows after his run of five successive titles was ended by Argentina Juan Martin Del Potro in last year final. Mardy Fish can also take a great deal of self-confidence to New York after a magnificent week in which, after entering as a wild card, he saw off Andy Murray and Andy Roddick en route to the final.

The American certainly held his own against Roger Federer although the few opportunities which did arise fell the way of the former world number one. Roger Federer held four break points in the first set including one set point but was not capable to execute. And he paid the price as Mardy Fish upped his game to clinch the tie break. The second set followed a akin pattern with both players struggling to gain any fluency on their returns. Mardy Fish had the only break point which came and went.

This time it was Roger Federer who found the reserves to up the rhythm in the breaker, clinching it for the loss of just one point to take the match all the way. A third tie break seemed on the cards only for Mardy Fish to lose application for a moment, allowing Roger Federer a break point at 4-4 which he converted when the Fish netted a routine backhand. Roger Federer showed his challenger no mercy by serving it out with ease to claim his fourth title in Cincinnati. It was a great match for both of us, Roger Federer said afterwards, and off course only one can win it.

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Roberto Mancini be adamant he has no regrets about missing out on Fernando Torres, because he thinks Mario Balotelli will be even better. The Manchester City manager had been interested in signing Torres over the summer, but was put off by Liverpool £50million valuation, picking up Inter Milan Mario Balotelli instead for £22.5m. Roberto Mancini thinks that Mario Balotelli will prove to be better value for money, However Fernando Torres is an extraordinary striker but I think it was difficult for Liverpool to sell him because he is such an important player for them. But it is good for us that we got Mario Balotelli instead.

Mario Balotelli could be even better than Fernando Torres because Torres can only play as a striker, whereas Mario Balotelli can play as a striker or as a winger. What is sure is we are talking about two extraordinary players. Mario Balotelli is highly rated by the Italian, and many believes that he is already one of the top strikers in the world. Roberto Mancini said: According to my point of view, there are eight or nine fantastic strikers in the world and Fernando Torres and Mario Balotelli are two of them along with Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Tevez and Messi. They are all fantastic players and we have managed to get one of them. The Manchester City manager is certain that Mario Balotelli will have no problem getting used to the style of play in the Premier League.

Roberto Mancini added: He is suited to the Premier League style, because it is different to Italian Serie A. The defenders do not know much about him but they will see he can change everything about a game and that is the same case with Carlos Tevez. I saw Balotelli four years ago when he was only 16 and it was the last five games of the Serie A championship. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was injured and we played Balotelli inside and he played like someone of 30 years old. That is because he has very good technique he has everything. Balotelli is young, always wants to play and always wants to score.

Roberto Mancini also gave an insight to his next opponents, ‘Liverpool’, as well as their new manager Roy Hodgson. He said; “Roy Hodgson is a very good boss and I know him very well as he worked in Italy for many years. The most important thing is that he is like me and that is a good thing. Liverpool are a tough team and have only changed the manager they have kept all the players they had last year. That’s for sure they can challenge for the title.

Manchester City Joe Hart, newly recognized at number one, spoke about the challenge that Liverpool presented to his side. He said: Fernando Torres had a difficult summer but you know for a fact that at any moment he can turn it on and score. You have to be conscious of that with world class players but we have a few ourselves. Liverpool will definitely challenge for the title. They are having a new manager changes a lot and a few people feel they have new chances and stuff to prove. But that is exactly how we feel at Manchester City so it should be an interesting game.

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German star Michael Ballack celebrated a winning return to the Bundesliga in Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 win at Borussia Dortmund. Germany coach Joachim Low was a spectator at the Westfalenstadion and he sent a congratulatory text message to Michael Ballack after the final whistle. I was really pleased about the SMS and we are going to speak on the phone this week, said by Michael Ballack.

Michael Ballack is bidding to carry on his international career, preferably as captain, after missing the World Cup in South Africa due to injury and he will be awaiting a call from Joachim Low when he names his squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belgium and Azerbaijan. Although the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea midfielder knows he can play a lot better than he did, even though he still assisted his side to make a perfect start to the season. I am sure there is still a lot of room for improvement, and now I need some match practice. I know every single game is important for me. We will have to see and wait if I am called up. I am not yet 100%, but I still see myself as part of the national team. It would be really great to be involved.

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Ryan Giggs has certain Wayne Rooney is still making a valuable contribution to the Old Trafford cause even without scoring. Wayne Rooney heads to Fulham hopeful to end a barren run of 13 matches stretching back to his first minute opener in the Champions League quarter final first leg against Bayern Munich in March. The occasions he did get a sight of the Newcastle goal and gave the impression of a man starting to get nervous about a failure that incorporate a blank time in a World Cup tournament although many had predicted he would dominate.

Ryan Giggs was amongst that number and very confident Wayne Rooney will soon start to excel again. Over the years, I have seen it here fairly a lot. People have got all the headlines because they have scored a goal, then actually their performance have been rubbish. Wayne Rooney’s performance on Monday was very good. His body language was good and he was creating chances. But I accept primarily goal scorers want to score, particularly after getting so many last year. If he carries on playing fine and getting chances, it will come sooner rather than later because he is a sparkling player. Ryan Giggs has no need to worry about such matters thanks to his excellent volley on Monday night. It expanded the Welshman record of being the only player to score in all 19 Premier League campaigns since the top-flight was reformed in 1992. The feat is quite astounding, even though typically, the 36 year old is not getting carried away.

It was actually nice to score. Even I scored in the third game last year, so I beat that, which is impressive to try and do. As for the goals themselves, it is not something I am particularly proud of. Playing for Manchester United, with the chances we create, I should have to score in all of those seasons. The weekend results could not have gone much better for Manchester United.

It is always good to start with form but you are going to get dips, as you do in every season. I have always that with United, perceptions can change very rapidly. Then your manager and players all know that you cannot allow to get too carried away when things are going fine, and equally, not to take any notice when we are the crisis club after losing or drawing a game. These are people outside the club who say it and it is something you have to come to terms with.

It is the kind of thing Ryan Giggs vast experience is invaluable for inside the Manchester United camp. Experience helps you battle these things. You can win the games, knowing you are getting away with it because you are not simply playing well. So some other points the team will be flying and people will be talking about what we are going to win. There is no point letting you get sucked in. You just have to think the next performance and the next result and make sure you do the best you can.

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Former India captain and leg spinner Anil Kumble believes Twenty20 cricket helps, not hamper, the fortunes of the game at Test level. The rapid thrills of the shorter form of the game are thought by many to detract from the traditional five day format, but the experienced leg spinner, speaking in South Africa where he is a guest of the national board, insists that Test cricket remains at the pinnacle of the sport. Anil Kumble, who will turn 40 in October, still plays 20 over’s cricket and will captains the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Champions League Twenty20 starting next month.

I have had the opportunity of playing for India for a number of years and there is no doubt that the best form of the game remains the Test cricket format, but at the same time, T20 cricket has helped considerably boost the image of the longer version of the game.  You know, just a few years ago, 250 consider a good score to post at the end of a day’s play in a Test match. Now, dashing hard hitter Virender Sehwag can score those runs in a single day’s play. It has certainly made the Test cricket more offering and attractive. Anil Kumble quit international cricket in 2008 after a glittering 18 year career that saw him take 619 Test wickets in 132 matches and also bagged more than 300 one day scalps.

He also called for support within youth organization of the game, highlighting it as one of the most important elements going forward. He further continued there needs to be a lot of hand holding and mentoring. The pressure facing international cricketers is huge. Aside from the real cricket commitments, there are also media requirements, sponsor activities, and a variety of other social engagements on any given tour, and it is not easy to preserve composure, if a cricketer does not have the right support. Anil Kumble, who exposed recently that he planned to open a spinning academy with Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan, praised the work being done with slow bowlers in South Africa. He further added: There are a number of good young spinners coming through the system in South Africa, and I was impressed by the enthusiasm shown, and the talent on display.

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