Widdop called into England squad

Widdop is one of three uncapped players in the squad

Melbourne Storm full-back Gareth Widdop has received a surprise call-up into new England coach Steve McNamara's 19-man squad for the match against France.

Widdop, 21, is one of three uncapped players named in McNamara's first selection for the game on 12 June.

The 19 will go into camp on Monday to begin preparations for the France game, before the end-of-season Four Nations series in New Zealand and Australia.

"The squad has a blend of experience and potential," said McNamara.

Widdop, whose father Gary played for Keighley, will be one of three players flying over from Australia for the mid-season international - South Sydney's former Bradford forward Sam Burgess and Wests Tigers second rower Gareth Ellis are the others.

The Melbourne Storm player has been preferred to Hull KR full-back Shaun Briscoe, one of three players dropped from England's Four Nations final team.

606: DEBATE Have your say on the squad

Hull KR winger Peter Fox and Huddersfield prop Eorl Crabtree are the others left out, along with St Helens back rower Jon Wilkin, who is injured.

Their places go to Hull winger Tom Briscoe, who earns a recall, Bradford front rower Nick Scruton and Wigan second rower Joel Tomkins, who are both expected to win their first caps.

There are also recalls for Wigan loose forward Sean O'Loughlin, who missed both the 2008 World Cup and the 2009 Four Nations series through injury, and Leeds stand-off Danny McGuire.

Tomkins' selection alongside his younger brother Sam, the Wigan stand-off, could see siblings play alongside each other in the national team for the first time since 1989, when Paul and David Hulme, of Widnes, lined up for Great Britain against New Zealand at Wigan.

"The new players we have brought in have a lot to add. Joel Tomkins, like his brother Sam, is an excellent competitor with a first-class approach who has been in top form all year and deserves his place," added McNamara.

"Nick Scruton's inclusion is reward for 12 months of very consistent, explosive form for Bradford and Gareth Widdop is a player who really excites me.

"I have done a lot of research on Gareth, who is already a very good player with the potential to be an outstanding one.

"His first-team appearances have been limited at Melbourne due to being second choice behind the world's number one full-back Billy Slater, but I feel that this is the perfect opportunity and timing to take a closer look at an already very exciting young talent.

"With Gareth, as with many players in this squad, we have one eye on the here and now and one eye on the future and our ambitions to win the Rugby League World Cup in 2013."

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The 19-man England squad for the international against France at Leigh Sports Village:

C Bridge (Warrington), T Briscoe (Hull), S Burgess (South Sydney), K Eastmond (St Helens), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), J Graham (St Helens), R Hall (Leeds), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), D McGuire (Leeds), A Morley (Warrington), J Peacock (Leeds), J Roby (St Helens), N Scruton (Bradford), M Shenton (Castleford), K Sinfield (Leeds), J Tomkins (Wigan), S Tomkins (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington), G Widdop (Melbourne).

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Ennis eyes Olympics double tilt

By Tom Fordyce

Ennis came close to a new GB record despite poor conditions in Austria

World heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis could yet go for two gold medals at the London Olympics if a request to 2012 organisers is accepted.

Ennis, who won in Austria on Sunday to underline her number one world ranking, is considering entering the 100m hurdles as well as the heptathlon.

But she will only do so if the 2012 timetable gives her time between events to recover and compete in good shape.

"You might as well give it your all in a home Olympics," said Ennis.

"I hope they'll be able to pull a few strings to let it happen."

Ennis entered both heptathlon and hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, but with the heats of the hurdles coming only two days after she sealed heptathlon gold, she withdrew from the individual event citing exhaustion.

UK Athletics' head coach Charles van Commenee has passed on a request from Ennis and her coach Toni Minichiello to Locog, the organising committee for 2012, which is expected to finalise the athletics schedule over the next few months.

606: DEBATE Do you think Jess should double up? BBC Sport's Peter Scrivener

A London 2012 spokesperson told BBC Sport: "Discussions regarding the timetable of events during the London 2012 Games are still ongoing, and the schedule will be determined by the International Olympic Committee, IAAF and Locog in conjunction with Olympic Broadcasting Services. A draft schedule will be submitted to the IOC later this year."

If the hurdles are scheduled too close to the heptathlon - at the last Olympics in Beijing, the semi-finals were held on the same day as the second day of the heptathlon - Ennis may even enter the individual high jump, in which she is joint British record-holder.

She may also have a chance of being included in the British 4x100m relay squad, with Tony Lester, UK Athletics' national event coach for women's sprints, considering her as an outside option.

If she only made the semi-finals of the hurdles, would that be viewed as an anti-climax? Ennis' coach Toni Minichiello

But it is in the hurdles where Ennis would have her best chance of making an individual impact. In January this year she beat former world indoor champion Lolo Jones to win the 60m hurdles in a British record of 7.95 seconds, while her personal best of 12.81 secs in the 100m hurdles would have seen her qualify for the final in Berlin.

Minichiello told BBC Sport: "Let's not lose sight of the fact that there's one main job to be done, the heptathlon. That's the focus. But if you're going to be at the party, why not enjoy yourself fully?

"This might be Jess's only Olympics. She missed Beijing with the stress fracture in her foot, and by the time 2016 comes round she'll be 30 years old.

"We're in someone else's hands, but it's all about options. If the heptathlon was held on the first two days in London, would she be able to get enough rest and privacy over the next five days to be in shape for the hurdles?

"If you fail to win the heptathlon, how do you deal with that before the hurdles? And if she only made the semi-finals of the hurdles, would that be viewed as an anti-climax?"

Ennis will concentrate solely on the heptathlon at this summer's European Championships; the event is scheduled for days four and five in Barcelona, with the hurdles final due to take place just 20 minutes before the final event of the heptathlon, the 800m.

And the heptathlon at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu is due to be held on days three and four, which also leaves too little time for an athlete to double up over the hurdles.

Ennis held off a strong challenge from Russian Tatyana Chernova at the Gotzis Hypo-Meeting at the weekend to win with 6,689 points, falling just 142 points behind Denise Lewis's British record despite heavy rain and strong winds.

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Wozniacki dumped out by Schiavone

French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: 23 May-6 June
Coverage: Live video streamed from 1000 BST on BBC Sport website (UK only) and BBC red button; commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra; also live on Eurosport; text commentary on BBC Sport website Details of BBC coverage

Schiavone shocks Wozniacki

World number three Caroline Wozniacki was sent crashing out of the French Open quarter-finals after a stunning display by Italian Francesca Schiavone.

The 19-year-old Dane was broken three times as the 17th seed powered her way through the first set and her dominance continued at the start of the next.

Wozniacki battled back to 3-3 but the 29-year-old soon secured a 6-2 6-3 win.

Schiavone faces Elena Dementieva for a spot in the final after the fifth seed beat Russian Nadia Petrova 2-6 6-2 6-0.

Fifth seed Dementieva progressed after an error-strewn match as both players struggled with leg injuries picked up earlier in the tournament.

It's a very special emotion to reach the semi-finals Francesca Schiavone

The tie lasted two hours six minutes, which included delays for medical time-outs and decisions over the rain, but it was Petrova, who brushed Venus Williams aside in the previous round, that began in sprightly fashion, taking the opening set.

Dementieva, seeking her first major Grand Slam win at the 46th time of asking, finally settled and cruised to take the next two sets with her compatriot clearly struggling with a thigh injury.

Apart from a brief wobble when leading 3-1 lead in the second set, Schiavone's victory was never in doubt as she progressed to her first semi-final in a Grand Slam.

Schiavone, who broke serve six times, won 13 of 16 points at the net and produced 25 winners to her opponent's 10, said: "It's an honour for me to play here. I played really well. I'm enjoying it so much.

"I have been doing this job all of my life. It's a very special emotion to reach the semi-finals especially when you work hard every morning, every afternoon."

Wozniacki, the tournament's youngest quarter-finalist and playing in her second Grand Slam quarter-final, said: "She played well just as she has done throughout the whole tournament.

"She plays differently. She mixes up the balls a lot. She didn't play typical women's tennis."

606: DEBATE What are your predictions for the French Open? Shades Of Red

The Italian, playing in her second Roland Garros quarter-final nine years after her first, promised to "fight and run for three hours" if necessary and she didn't disappoint, taking just 38 minutes to win the first set.

Wozniacki, runner-up at the US Open last summer, was pushed to all corners of the court with Schiavone benefiting from a more positive and aggressive approach.

A double fault at 5-2 handed Schiavone a set point and the Italian duly obliged with a cute drop shot, followed up by a crushing cross-court winner.

After a slow start in the second set, the Danish teenager at last showed signs of life to break back and trail 1-2 but then lost her serve for the fifth consecutive time.

The fightback was all too brief and despite the damp conditions, Schiavone continued to dazzle with power and deftness at the net when required and broke again in game eight before serving out the match.

She collapsed and kissed the clay after becoming the first Italian woman since 1954 to reach a Grand Slam singles semi-final.

In the remaining quarter-finals, world number one Serena Williams faces Australian Sam Stosur AUS, while fourth seed Jelena Jankovic takes on Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova.

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Ramsey signs new Arsenal contract

Arsenal beat off competition from Manchester United to sign Ramsey

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey has signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

Ramsey, 19, joined Arsenal from Cardiff in the summer of 2008 for £5m and is currently recovering from a broken leg, suffered against Stoke in February.

The Welshman, who scored four times from his 29 appearances last season, had previously signed a new long-term deal at the club in July 2009.

"I'm very happy here at Arsenal, it's a great club and I've learned a lot since I've been here," said Ramsey.

Ramsey, who has been capped 11 times by Wales, was well on the way to establishing himself as a key man in the Arsenal midfield before a tackle by Ryan Shawcross left him with fractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg.

606: DEBATE Awesome stuff. We have secured the future of the replacement for Cesc Fabregas SuperSamirNasri8

The midfielder's rehabilitation is expected to continue into next year.

He scored his first league goal for the Gunners in a 4-1 win over Portsmouth in August, and also claimed his first international strike in a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein in October.

"Every player wants to play in a team where they can play football and I feel that this is the way it should be played, so that's one of the reasons I signed a new contract," added Ramsey.

"I think I can still develop my game a lot, and I'm in the right place to do that with the support of the manager and also a squad of very talented players.

"I'm convinced the next few years will be a time where my career kicks on to a new level, it's an exciting time to be part of the club."

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Serbia finalise World Cup squad

Nikola Zigic (right) will lead the line for Serbia

Serbia coach Raddy Antic has finalised his World Cup squad, with goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic the man to miss out when the squad was trimmed from 24 to 23.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic and Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic will team up at the back.

And Birmingham's giant new striker Nikola Zigic leads the forward line.

Serbia take on Poland in a friendly in Austria on Wednesday and they are in the same group as Germany, Ghana and Australia in the World Cup.

Antic had earlier cut the squad down from 30, losing Chelsea pair Slobodan Rajkovic and Nemanja Matic as well as Ajax forward Miralem Sulejmani.

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Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria).

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio).

Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (VfB Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege).

Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Birmingham City), Marko Pantelic (Ajax Amsterdam), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad).

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Armstrong to race in Swiss Tour

Armstrong crashed out of last month's Tour of California

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will ride in this month's Tour de Suisse.

The 38-year-old American is using the race, from 12-20 June, as preparation for July's Tour de France.

Race spokesman Rolf Huser said: "Lance is a big star and it is important to have him in the starting line-up."

Armstrong's preparations for the Tour de France, which begins on 3 July, were hampered when he crashed out of last month's Tour of California.

The Radioshack rider has not competed in the Tour de Suisse since winning it in 2001, before going on to win his third Tour de France.

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Walcott left out of England squad

Walcott - shock inclusion in 2006, shock omission in 2010

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is the surprise omission from England's 23-man World Cup squad, BBC Sport understands.

Walcott, 21, was in the provisional squad of 30 and started both of England's recent friendly victories against Mexico and Japan.

But Chelsea's Joe Cole has been included in the final squad, which flies to South Africa on Wednesday.

Gareth Barry had a fitness test on his injured ankle on Tuesday morning, with initial reports sounding favourable.

The Manchester City midfielder has not played since he picked up a ligament injury in a Premier League match against Tottenham on 5 May.

Walcott was a shock inclusion in former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad but did not feature in the tournament and the then-17-year-old's inclusion was widely criticised.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to England's World Cup squad

The right winger has since won 11 caps, with all three of his international goals coming in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Croatia in Zagreb on 10 September 2008.

Joe Cole is now fully fit after a serious knee ligament injury and produced an impressive second-half cameo during Sunday's 2-1 win against Japan.

After that match, Cole said: "I think I did all right. These games are never easy - you don't want to get injured and there were some tackles flying in.

"I've had a good 10 days training and a good 45 minutes. I just want to help England win the World Cup."

The World Cup begins on 11 June, with England's first game coming a day later against the United States in Rustenburg.

More to follow.

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Watch highlights of England's World Cup qualifying campaign

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Live - French Open

Live video - BBC coverage of the French Open from Roland Garros (UK only)

LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)

To get involved, please use Twitter, 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide). (Not all contributions can be used. Messages will be charged at your standard operator rate)

By Caroline Cheese

1345: Erm... Britain's Oli Golding loses the second-set tie-break 7-0, handing Tiago Fernandes a 6-2 7-6 victory. Still the Brazilian is the fifth seed - and I bet you could count the number of Nik Naks adverts he's starred in on, well, no hands.

1339: The tension builds on a damp Court 11 where Oli Golding and Tiago Fernandes go into a second-set tie-break, which the Brit must win to avoid a second-round exit. Still, I imagine if you've starred in a Nik Naks advert, a crucial tie-break is a walk in the park by comparison. Schiavone with a 4-2 lead over Wozniacki, and looking very impressive. Elena Dementieva has pegged Nadia Petrova back to 3-2.

1333: The lovely Sarah from the BBC Red Button team has just alerted me to the official Roland Garros weather forecast, which seems to imply that this miserable weather is somehow Britain's fault... "A cool overcast sky during most of the morning. By mid-afternoon, a weather disturbance coming from the British Isles is expected to bring light to moderate rain to Roland Garros. Expect the rain to persist a few hours before tapering off later in the evening."

From Greg Rusedski on Twitter: "Schiavone playing very well and great to watch. Lovely to see variety, and great tactics."

1330: Schiavone sends a raking single-handed backhand onto the sideline past a stranded Wozniacki. The Italian follows it with a superb lob, giving her three break points. She only needs one and now leads 3-1. Nadia Petrova has leapt out to 3-0 against Elena Dementieva on Lenglen. Britain's Oli Golding holds serve to take a 5-4 second-set lead against Tago Fernandes.

1325: Oli Golding's favourite dogs are called Bobby and Doggy Pink, according to his official website. I don't like to be mean, but Doggy Pink? What sort of a dog's name is that? I wonder if that dog dares leave the house for its walkies. Still raining in Paris but they carry on... It's already a bit of a dogfight on Chatrier as Schiavone holds to lead 2-1 against Wozniacki. Slowcoaches over on Lenglen where Petrova holds her serve to lead Dementieva 1-0.

BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Rain falling as Golding takes a 4-3 lead against Fernandes. Both players hit it hard and make a lot of noise doing so. Good match so far..."

1318: Britain's Oli Golding drops serve in the second set of his second-round match against Tiago Fernandes and is pegged back to 3-2. Golding used to be a child actor and his CV includes Coming Home with Keira Knightley, and the Mike Leigh film All Or Nothing. I am more impressed that he has also appeared in a Nik Naks advert. I love Nik Naks.

From DiscoStew1 on Twitter: "Office atmosphere mixed... I'm raving about a Fed-Soderling match-up and its falling on deaf ears... philistines!"

1311: Sam Smith on the BBC Red Button predicts Wozniacki-Schiavone could be an epic. Apparently, Schiavone herself predicted a real battle between the pair and said she was prepared to stay out there for "three hours" if necessary. Great. Could be a long wait for Roger Federer and Robin Soderling, whose quarter-final follows this one.

1309: I think we can safely say we're at the business end of the French Open now as the quarter-finals get under way. On court and warming up now: Caroline Wozniacki and Francesca Schiavone on Chatrier, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova on Lenglen. Meanwhile on Court 11, British wonder-boy Oli Golding has lost the first set against fifth seed Tiago Fernandes but leads 3-0 in the second.

1300: Hello there. I don't know how the atmosphere is in your office, but everyone here is absolutely buzzing about the start of the French Open quarter-finals, and not in any way distracted by the impending announcement of the Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad for the World Cup.

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Eriksson confirms Ivorian squad

Ivory Coast's World Cup build-up (UK users only)

International users World Cup build-up video highlights here

Strikers Bakary Kone and Kanga Akale have been left out of the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup.

Didier Drogba, Salamon Kalou, Aruna Dindane and Seydou Doumbia will be the strikers in the Elephants' line-up for South Africa.

Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has also dropped midfielders Emerse Fae, Gilles Yapi Yapo and Traore Lacina.

But there is a place for Koffi N'Dri Romaric, who was recalled after missing the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

He was left out of that squad by former coach Vahid Halilhodzic because of disciplinary issues.

West Bromwich Albion defender Abdoulaye Meite failed to make the cut for South Africa as did goalkeeper Vincent Angban.

His absence means there is only one locally-based player in the squad, his fellow keeper Daniel Yeboah of ASEC Mimosas.

Ivory Coast are in drawn in Group G with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.

Elsewhere, Wigan's Steve Gohouri has sealed his place on the plane after missing out on Angola.

WORLD CUP PHOTO ALBUM Do you have a photo with yourself and a star from Ivory Coast? Send us your photos to be in our World Cup Photo Album!

Others who made the squad list are the English Premier League's Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, his Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou as well as Aruna Dindane who has helped Portsmouth to reach the FA Cup final but has now signed for Lekhwiya in Qatar.

Eriksson, who replaced Halilhodzic at the end of March, has said there are "big expectations" for Ivory Coast at Africa's first World Cup and he believes the team can fulfil them.

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Ivory Coast squad:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Daniel Yeboah (Asec, Ivory Coast).

Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian, Scotland), Arthur Boka (VB Stuttgart, Germany), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes, France), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic, England), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes, France), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, England).

Midfielders: Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso(Monaco, France), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray, Turkey), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges, Romania), Gervinho (Lille, France), Koffi N'Dri Romaric (Sevilla, Spain), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede, Holland), Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Sevilla, Spain).

Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya, Qatar), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Bakary Kone (Olympique Marseille, France).

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Greece name final World Cup squad

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World Cup guide - Greece

Greece manager Otto Rehhagel has named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

Liverpool defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Celtic striker Giorgos Samaras have both been picked.

Greece shocked the football world when they won the European Championships in 2004 but they have been unable to follow up that success.

They failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup and lost all three games in the 2008 European Championships.

They made it to South Africa after beating Ukraine in a play-off, having finished second to Switzerland in their group.

606: DEBATE Are Greece just there to make up the numbers? BBC Sport's Chris Summers

They will be relying heavily on goals from Hertha Berlin's Theofanis Gekas, who scored 10 during the qualification campaign.

Rehhagel left AEK Athens midfielder Grigoris Makos and Panionios defender Giorgos Tzavelas out of his final squad.

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Greece squad:

Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika).

Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika).

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika).

Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic).

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