“Rio said: ‘I think somebody cursed me’. That is honestly how he feels. Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him.”
Rio’s agent, Pini Zhavi, on how the defender is feeling

“The way France got to the World Cup with the handball in the play-off against Ireland could have an effect at the finals. Will it be in the minds of referees? It could be.”
Arsene Wenger concedes that Henry’s cheating could cost France

“I was as shocked as everyone else to see him miss against Japan, especially after the FA Cup final. But Frank will take the next penalty and all the players have confidence in him that he will come back and score his next one.”
Steven Gerrard still has faith in Frank Lampard… who has missed the past two penalties he’s taken.

“Personally, had I been the England manager, I would have taken Bent, who has been uniquely unlucky in not getting selected, the unluckiest striker in Europe. Why? Because he was the only striker in any of the big European leagues who scored 20 or more league goals in 2009-10 and isn’t going to the World Cup. The only one.”
Andy Cole explains why Darren Bent should be in the England squad

“I have been a Liverpool fan all of my life. I never mentioned it when I was in charge of England because I didn’t think it was fair. Would I want to be the manager of Liverpool? It is every manager’s dream to manage Liverpool.”
Sven-Goran Eriksson is proof that things can get worse for Liverpool

“I’m going to say it very clearly so there are no misunderstandings. I want to play at Madrid, I don’t want to go to Manchester City.”
Maicon adds to the players who have turned the blues down

“Capello has proved that Lampard and Gerrard can play together and to be honest if you can’t get the best out them in the same side you shouldn’t be managing.”
Harry Redknapp wades in to the age old England problem

“I’m not sure what to expect of my future yet but I hope to stay with Santos.”
Robinho, the most expensive player in England, doesn’t want to play for City anymore