GREECE coach Otto Rehhagel has urged his players to play “beyond their limits” if they want to claim a place in the 2010 World Cup by defeating Ukraine in their two-legged play-off.

The Netherlands booked their place in next year's World Cup finals with a 2-1 victory over Iceland in Reykjavik tonight.

JUVENTUS manager Claudio Ranieri believes Chelsea would have let him buy Frank Lampard this summer – but he had no intention of moving for his former player.

Chelsea have given AC Milan permission to talk to Didier Drogba but remain unwilling to part with former Rossoneri forward Andrei Shevchenko, the Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has claimed.

Arsenal’s AC Milan-bound midfielder Mathieu Flamini cannot wait to embark on his new adventure in Serie A – a league he believes is at the forefront of world football.

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi insists a move for Ronaldinho is not on the Rossoneri’s agenda this summer but admitted he still admires Andrei Shevchenko.

CLAUDIO PIZARRO is a rare specimen at Stamford Bridge: a transfer market acquisition by Jose Mourinho who has failed to live up to expectations.

Newcastle 0 Chelsea 0

I’M BEGINNING to think that I’m deluded in believing that Chelsea continue to have patience and faith in Jose Mourinho as their manager.

Chelsea‘s Didier Drogba‘s has set himself the goal of becoming the best striker in the country this season.

Chelsea new boys Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko are both expected to feature in Sunday’s FA Community Shield against Liverpool in Cardiff.

BRAZILIAN star Ronaldinho has sparked a row in Spain by selecting six Chelsea players in his European dream team - and none from his own club!

Brazilian star Ronaldinho has sparked a row in Spain by selecting six Chelsea players in his European dream team – and none from his own club!

Sven-Goran Eriksson has named Holland, Australia and the United States as the trio he would like England to avoid in this evening’s World Cup draw.

JOSE MOURINHO paid record-breaking Frank Lampard the highest possible tribute by declaring he would not swap the England international for any other player in the world.

Jose Mourinho paid record-breaking Frank Lampard the highest possible tribute by declaring he would not swap the England international for any other player in the world.

Wayne Rooney took centre stage once again as he collected his FIFPro world young player of the year award in London last night, but the Manchester United striker admitted it was a humbling experience.

PLAYERS from the Premiership featured strongly in the inaugural MasterCard FIFPro World XI Player Awards, announced in London.

Juventus have reportedly targeted Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira after rejecting Chelsea’s bid for their France striker David Trezeguet.

THE Crazy Gang versus The Culture Club was how BBC commentator John Motson famously described the clash of Wimbledon and Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final.

AC Milan 2 PSV Eindhoven 0

ANDREI SHEVCHENKO’s agent believes Chelsea cannot afford to pay the wages of the newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year.

THE 50th season of European club competition reaches a defining moment tomorrow when the draw for the first knockout stage of the Champions League takes place at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

MILAN striker Andrei Shevchenko is the new European Footballer of the Year.

Fenerbahce 3 Man Utd 0

Celtic 0 AC Milan 0

Celtic 0 AC Milan 0

Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Andrei Shevchenko will battle it out to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year next month.

A BRILLIANT late Ronaldinho strike gave Barcelona a 2-1 win over AC Milan in a Champions League Group F epic at the Nou Camp.

Ruud van Nistelrooy struck twice as Holland got their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a 3-1 win over Group One leaders Finland.

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill insists their sour Champions League experience has not quenched his desire for success in the competition.

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill admitted last night that his side must sort out their away Champions League record with a result in the San Siro to keep this season’s dreams alive.

Chelsea remain optimistic striker Mateja Kezman will be available to face Manchester United in their Premiership opener on August 15 despite his sending-off in a pre-season friendly.

Jose Mourinho will not read too much into Chelsea’s defeat by AC Milan in the final match of their ChampionsWorld Series pre-season campaign in America.

Manchester United 1 AC Milan 1 (Milan won 9-8 on penalties)

SERGEI REBROV will attempt to resurrect his flagging career after signing for West Ham on a free transfer.

West Ham’s chances of signing Ukrainian striker Sergei Rebrov have improved after Tottenham confirmed the player they bought four years ago for £11m (€16.6m) is now a free agent.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew believes it would have been “silly” to pass up the chance of giving Tottenham misfit Sergei Rebrov a trial.

Zinedine Zidane struck late in the day as France finally broke down dogged Ukraine resistance to warm up for their Euro 2004 opener with England with a victory.

Chelsea are poised to open talks aimed at making Jose Mourinho their new boss following a brief delay caused by a trip to Milan to speak to the Italian champions.

AC Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko has signed a four-year contract extension which will keep him with the Italian champions until the end of the 2008/09 season.

FILIPPO INZAGHI is the notable omission from the Italy squad named for Euro 2004 by Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday.

Filippo Inzaghi is the notable omission from the Italy squad named for Euro 2004 by Giovanni Trapattoni today.