A World Cup penalty shootout? Peter Crouch will put himself forward but Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney would be our first choice

Looking forward: Crouch says he'd relish taking a penalty in South Africa

Playing up to the gallery: Crouch’s robot dance took the heat off Sven Goran Eriksson, while the England striker poses with girlfriend Abbey Clancy (right)

Peter Crouch has scored more goals for England than anyone else in Fabio Capello’s expected World Cup squad except Wayne Rooney. And as the 6ft 7in Tottenham striker looks forward to this summer’s tournament in South Africa, he talks exclusively to Mail on Sunday columnist Gary Lineker, England’s World Cup hero at Mexico ’86 and Italia ’90, about the chances for Capello’s squad, how Harry Redknapp saved his career — and why he’ll be thinking of his Mum if he has to take part in a penalty shoot-out.

GARY LINEKER: Your 20 goals in 37 games is a great record in international football. So are you frustrated you’re not an automatic choice for England?

PETER CROUCH: Yes, sometimes. All I can do is take the opportunities when I get them. Hopefully, I did well enough scoring twice in the last game against Egypt to play a big part in the next one, against Mexico, and in the World Cup.

GL: Capello seems to favour a big guy to play alongside Rooney. That must help your cause, especially as Emile Heskey hasn’t been playing regularly for Aston Villa.

PC: In the back of your mind, it helps to know the manager seems to prefer to play with a big striker, although he has got other options. The truth is there are a lot of forwards who want to play alongside Wayne Rooney and I am one of those.

GL: Do you get the impression Capello likes you, or is he a difficult man to read?

Carlos Tevez to walk if Manchester City miss out on Champions League spot

Time to go?: Carlos Tevez has grown increasingly unhappy with life at City under boss Roberto Mancini

Carlos Tevez is set to stun Manchester City fans by fighting for a summer move if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Tevez has become increasingly disillusioned at life at Eastlands under manager Roberto Mancini, and his adviser Kia Joorabchian is believed to have contacted some of Europe's leading clubs as a contingency if City miss out on the top four.

City fans will be dismayed by the split between Tevez and Mancini, having taken the 26-year-old striker to their hearts following his arrival from Manchester United at the start of the campaign.

The Argentine has scored 28 goals this season and has been nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, which will be announced tonight.

Injury cause Ronney out of Manchester United titile bid but England Striker will made it for World Cup

Boy wonder: Wayne Rooney and his son Kai wearing a Manchester United Shirt with the name 'MY DAD' on the back at Old Trafford

Blow: Wayne Rooney looks set to miss the remainder of Manchester United's season

Wayne Rooney looks set to miss the remainder of Manchester United's season - and may not start a match again until England kick off their World Cup campaign in South Africa.

Rooney was ruled out of United's 3-1 victory against Tottenham at Old Trafford yesterday with a groin injury and manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'We don't know when he'll be back. We may be looking at two or three weeks.'

Despite Rooney's absence, United returned to the top of the Premier League, two penalties from evergreen Ryan Giggs and a superb finish from Nani seeing off top-four contenders Spurs, whose consolation goal from Ledley King will boost his own World Cup hopes.

Inter Milan beats Barcelona 3-1 in Champion League semifinals.

Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o, left, of Cameroon, challenges for the ball with Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez during a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy,Tuesday, April 20, 2010.



Barcelona's Pedro Rodriguez, n. 17, scores during a Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy,Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Barcelona's attempt to becoming European soccer's first repeat champion in two decades was jeopardized with a 3-1 loss to Inter Milan on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Barcelona appeared fatigued as the game went on, perhaps from a 450-mile bus trip the team was forced to take. Flights were grounded across Europe following the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and Inter may have to take a similar trip for the second leg of the total-goals series in Barcelona next Wednesday.


Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito scored for Inter, seeking to become Europe's champion for the first time since consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965. Inter frustrated FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi, whose four goals in the second leg of the quarterfinals eliminated Arsenal.

Pedro Rodriguez scored on a low shot in the 19th minute for Barcelona, but Sneijder tied the score off a pass from Milito in the 30th minute and Maicon put Inter ahead in the 48th on an overlapping run,l again from a Milito pass.

Milito scored the final goal on a header in the 61st after Samuel Eto'o broke down a wing and crossed to Sneijder, who nodded the ball back.

Click Continue Reading below for Highlights of Inter Milan vs Barcelona and pictures.

Jose Mourinho is a genius performaed brilliantly as manager for Inter Milan win.

No ordinary Jose: the Inter Milan manager puts desire ahead of genius

No way through: Lionel Messi may be a genius, but he was outnumbered by desire in the San Siro

What Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan so brilliantly demonstrated against Barcelona at the San Siro on Tuesday night was the oldest lesson in sport: put genius in a foot race with desire, and desire wins every time. Yet still some people keep putting the cart before the horse. Why are we so totally entranced by genius that we forget the thing that puts it on the podium?

Even those blessed with genius try to steer us in the right direction. Sam Snead was the sweetest swinger of a golf club of all time, but he used to get really annoyed when people complimented him on the fact. 'Do you have any idea how many hours I spend practising to make this swing look natural?' he would respond.

It's the same with Barcelona. They aren't the best team in football because of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez. They're the best team when eight other outfield players are performing at the peak of their powers and doing all the dirty work to allow Messi and Xavi to do their thing.

Mourinho's talents as a manager all lie in the fact he recognises that a footballer who consistently turns in eight out of 10 performances is far better than one who gets full marks one week and half marks the next. He would never harbour an extravagance like Dimitar Berbatov.

Whatever XI Mourinho puts on the pitch, the one thing you can guarantee is they will come close to their peak performance. What they have to offer in terms of quality depends on how much money you give him to spend.

Rooney Part II New Autobiography in need of World Cup glory

A star in print: But sales of Wayne Rooney's first book flopped

Publishers Harper Collins are banking on a memorable World Cup for Wayne Rooney, having made the decision to bring out the second edition of their £5m five-book deal with the England talisman later in the year.

The first Rooney book was published in 2006 and was one of the England player autobiographies that sold very poorly in the wake of the disappointing performance in Germany. Distinguished writer Hunter Davies, who worked with Rooney on that expensive flop, was unable to coax much interesting material from the footballer.

This time Harper Collins have chosen a lowprofile ghostwriter in freelance journalist Matt Allen, who has credits from books about Jimmy Greaves and Wimbledon's Crazy Gang, as well as Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling's Jellyman's Throwing a Wobbly that had 10 weeks in the best-seller lists.

Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole is '100 per cent fit' to play despite mental turmoil, insists Carlo Ancelotti

Comeback: Ashley Cole could play against Stoke


Focused: Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are ready to finish the job and clinch the Premier League title

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti insists England left-back Ashley Cole is mentally prepared to return to first-team action following months of injury and personal turmoil.

The 29-year-old has recovered from the broken ankle he sustained against Everton back in February but his marriage to wife Cheryl remains in trouble following lurid headlines linking him to a string of other women.

Cole was back in the squad for the defeat at Tottenham last weekend but remained an unused substitute. There is every chance he could make a playing return against Stoke tomorrow as Chelsea prepare for another massive weekend in the title race.

'I think he passed a bad moment because the injury was very serious,' said Ancelotti. 'But he has had time to recover very well, not only physically but also with a good mentality. Now he's fit 100 per cent. I think that he is focused, 100 per cent, on playing football. Nothing else.'

Sir Alex Ferguson is too hungry to retire, insists Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Old adversaries: Wenger says he wasn't surprised when Sir Alex announced he has no plans to retire


Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger never felt a 'hungry' Sir Alex Ferguson was ready to retire and is relishing going head to head with his old adversary for a few years yet.

Ferguson will celebrate his 69th birthday at the end of this year and has shown no sign of being affected by the pressures of being Manchester United manager since 1986.
However, the Scot has always stated that his health is of paramount importance and stories emerged recently claiming he would leave his job at the end of next term, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho lined up as his successor.

Ferguson, though, today dismissed those as 'rubbish' and Wenger, who turned 60 last year and recently became the longest serving manager in Arsenal's history, believes both men have a few more years left in them.

'You see the way he behaves and manages his team that the hunger is there,' said Wenger, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season.

'As long as he will live the hunger will be there for success. That is something that does not die in you. 'When you get older you have to analyse and consider your health, where you have the physical strength to do the job.

'But to me at the moment he does not look to have any problem. It is always interesting facing him.'

Groin injury could rule Rooney out of Man Utd run-in - just returned from ankle injury and know injured groin.

Rooney had only just returned to action after an ankle injury

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could miss the end of the season after injuring his groin in training, but should be fit for the World Cup.

England striker Rooney, who has only just come back from an ankle injury, missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Tottenham because of the problem.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no plans to retire from Manchester United

Staying power: Sir Alex Ferguson at Carrington on Friday morning

Sir Alex Ferguson has sought to quash speculation over when he will retire by warning his Barclays Premier League rivals he will be in charge at Manchester United for years to come.

Ferguson's team face rejuvenated Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime knowing a win will take them back above rivals Chelsea, who face Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and the United manager said both he and his players are ready to rise to the challenge.

Ferguson said: 'I have no intention of retiring. The only thing that determines my staying here is my health. Unfortunately for everyone, I'm in rude health. You'll be gone before I am.