Sports portal, Sports events, Sports news, Melbourne, Sydney, Australia

Arsene Wenger has reacted angrily to Barcelona's public pursuit of Thierry Henry and has threatened to report the Spanish champion for its behaviour in trying to lure his captain.

Senior Barcelona figures have made no secret of their desire to capture Henry at season's end, with the president, Joan Laporta, publicly confirming this week that he will try to sign the striker.

Wenger said no one from the club had been in touch to discuss a transfer and he is concerned that Barcelona is carrying out a destabilising campaign against the rules.

"I'm worried about it," Wenger said. "If they want to sign him, all they have to do is call us up because he has one year left on his contract. I hope to do something about it because it's unfair and insulting. It shows a lack of respect. I don't care who you are in football - if you are from Barcelona or Doncaster, you have to respect the rules."

Courtesy: http://www.theage.com.au

BRAZIL might bring the glamour, Croatia the sentiment, but the key to Australia's World Cup success lies with Japan, its opponent in the opening match of group F in Kaiserslautern.

The Asian champion will regard Australia as opposition it can beat.

The Socceroos know that to give themselves any chance of reaching the knockout phase they have to at least ensure a draw against a nation that has defeated them the past two times they have met at full international level.

Ange Postecoglou, the national coach of Australia's under-20 and under-17 teams, has more experience of taking charge of teams in World Cup tournaments, albeit at junior level, than any other active coach in this country.