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Not quite the dream start for Chelsea boss Villas-Boas
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was denied a victory in his first Premier League match as the Blues were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Stoke on Sunday.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was denied a victory in his first Premier League match as the Blues were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Stoke on Sunday.
Villas-Boas's side failed to impress in the first half at the Britannia Stadium, but improved after the interval and the Portuguese coach would have been celebrating a winning start but for three fine saves from Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
That lack of experience is a concern for some and, while Stoke were in obdurate mood, this was a far from convincing start to Villas-Boas's reign.
Portugal, Mexico in U20 Wc semis
Bogota: Portugal advanced to the semi-finals of the U20 World Cup with a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory over favourites Argentina as Mexico also booked their berth by beating hosts Colombia 3-1. In a tie with few real chances on goal and a scoreline 0-0 after 120 minutes in Cartagena the Portuguese came back from a 3-1 penalty deficit to send Argentina crashing out.
Argentina coach Walter Perazzo, whose side had not conceded a goal so far in the competition, admitted he was stunned by the defeat.
Spain's Camacho is new China boss
Beijing: Former Real Madrid and Spain boss Jose Antonio Camacho took over China's beleaguered national football team on Sunday, as the underachieving Asian nation sets its sights on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The 56-year-old replaces Gao Hongbo and will be tasked with turning round the fortunes of the national side at a time of crisis for the Chinese top league, which has been dogged by corruption and sporadic bouts of hooliganism.
Despite a huge and passionate fanbase, China's record on the international stage is disappointing -- the national team has qualified for just one World Cup, in 2002.
Camacho, who led Spain to the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup, signed a three-year contract at a ceremony in Beijing on Sunday, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said. The Spaniard said he was looking forward to the challenge.