A Game Of Two Halves

SUGGESTIONS have been made to change fixtures at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to games of THREE thirty minute periods - if the heat conditions become too much for players.

Michael Beavon, director of Arup Associates, said: "There is a moderate risk of heat injury to the players between 24C-29C. But if you go above that you have high and extreme risk of injury.

"The one thing FIFA do say, although it is for guidance, is if it's 32C they will stop a match and play three 30-minute thirds rather than two 45-minute halves."

Temperatures can soar to over 40C in the summer, so the risk to players' health is clearly substantial. But, there is another way to get around this problem.

Do not have the World Cup in Qatar.

It is probably the most obvious solution.

What is the point in having three period football matches? It goes against the entire history of football. Not only will the idea of three periods play havoc with television scheduling, but the games will take even longer to complete.

No one wants to go to a football match and be disturbed by regular intervals. This is not American football where it takes four hours to complete a game because of the different plays and advertisement breaks.

Naturally, FIFA have distanced themselves from the claims. A spokesman said: "The possibility has not been discussed." Trust Sepp Blatter and his cronies to attempt to sweep another scandal under the rug.

The problem with Blatter is that he wants to leave a legacy. This is why we are facing the problematic World Cup in Qatar in the middle of summer, because of his 'legacy'. The only thing he is going to be remembered for is a series of cock-ups and a bribery scandal - not to mention his stubborn stance on goal-line technology, which I am not even going to get into.

Qatar was not a popular choice to host a World Cup, and this will do nothing to change anyone's views on the matter. Should three thirty minute periods be introduced, Blatter will be the laughing stock of the planet and the beautiful game will be a mockery.

The Nation Has Hope

ENGLAND Women qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Japan 2-0 on Tuesday.

A sensational chip from Ellen White and a neat finish from substitute Rachel Yankey were enough to see England top the group ahead of Japan, who are ranked fourth in the world.

Hope Powell's team now face France for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday in Leverkusen, and prove to the nation that not all World Cups can end in premature disappointment.

Following the men's humiliation at the hands of Germany last summer in Bloemfontein, the nation have come to expect nothing from those who pull on the coveted Three Lions jersey.

But now, after a draw against Mexico, victory from a goal down against New Zealand and Tuesday's win over Japan, there is light at the end of the tunnel for a country that is starving for success.

Women's football has been said to be lightyears behind the men's game, but the fact that more people care about the current World Cup going on in Germany than the Euro 2012 qualifiers explains the situation clearly.

Fabio Capello's flops fail to put on a display to get the crowd going on a regular basis, whereas Powell's team are some of the most consistent performers at every tournament. Could it be argued that the women's game is now more entertaining that the men's game? Or is it the same debate of lack of passion in the men's game?

Watching the goal celebrations every time the ladies scored, I got a real sense of togetherness. They are a close-knit unit - a family, even - rather than a team, whereas Capello's lads play as strangers.

It would be great to see the women bring the World Cup hope. Maybe it will not be as satisfying for a nation as a men's World Cup triumph, but you will not be able to take anything away from Powell's girls should they be victorious in Germany.

The Mann For The Job

DIETMAR Hamann's appointment as Stockport County manager is just the boost the club need to help steer them into the football league once more.

Hamann has a CV that boasts experience after a lengthy career which saw him lift two Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Cup with Bayern Munich, before a second UEFA Cup, two League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League triumph with Liverpool.

The Istanbul success under Rafa Benitez in 2005 was the icing on a fantastic career for the German who was capped 59 times by his country and scored the final goal at the old Wembley as the Germans ran out 1-0 winners over Kevin Keegan's England team.

The Hatters had a miserable campaign last season as they tumbled out of the football league for the first time in 106 years.

Under the charge of Dave Jones in 1996-97, County finished second in Division Two and also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup - beating three Premier League teams en route.

After five seasons in the second tier of English football, the Hatters were eventually relegated back to Division Two and then, not long after, to the fourth tier of English football.

In 2007-08, a 3-2 Play-Off Final victory over Rochdale saw Stockport return to League-One. However, financial trouble soon followed and after entering administration the club was taken over by the '2015 Group'.

Five wins from 46 matches saw the Hatters return to League Two in 2010, before toppling into the fifth tier after finishing bottom of the football league.

Now Hamann takes over the reigns of Ray Mathias in his first management job since retiring from professional football. The former Newcastle United midfielder was a coach at final club Milton Keynes Dons before he accepted the role of manager at Edgeley Park.

It is a shrewd appointment by Lord Snape who must surely believe that the experience Hamann will bring to the club will be invaluable. With a variety of contacts in England and across the continent, it will be interesting to see if those could be put into effect by securing the loan signings of talented young players that would surely help the Hatters back into the football league.