After sensationally sacking coach Holger Osieck in the aftermath of Urawa's second successive league defeat of the season, all eyes will be on Saitama Stadium for the beginning of the Gert Engels era as Urawa Reds kick off their Nabisco League Cup campaign at home to Vissel Kobe. Club president Mitsunori Fujiguchi claimed that Osieck had lost the support of the players, and former assistant coach Engels will hope to win over players and fans alike with some positive results in Urawa's upcoming League Cup matches. In contrast to Holger Osieck, Nagoya Grampus coach Dragan Stojkovic was ecstatic with Nagoya's 2-0 win over Urawa last weekend, and the Toyota-backed club kick off their League Cup campaign when they face Kyoto Sanga FC for the second time in two weeks. The League Cup is comprised of a six-game group stage, with the four group winners and two best-placed runners-up joining AFC Champions League participants Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka in the quarter-finals. The fixture list for the first two League Cup rounds is; March 20 Group A Nagoya Grampus vs Kyoto Sanga FC (Mizuho Stadium) Urawa Reds vs Vissel Kobe (Saitama Stadium) Group B Tokyo Verdy vs Jubilo Iwata (Ajinomoto Stadium) Shimizu S-Pulse vs FC Tokyo (Nihondaira Stadium) Group C Kawasaki Frontale vs JEF United (Todoroki Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol vs Consadole Sapporo (Kashiwanoha Stadium) Group D Yokohama F. Marinos vs Oita Trinita (Mitsuzawa Stadium) Albirex Niigata vs Omiya Ardija (Big Swan Stadium) March 23 Group A Vissel Kobe vs Nagoya Grampus (Kobe Wing Stadium) Kyoto Sanga vs Urawa Reds (Nishikyogoku Stadium) Group B Jubilo Iwata vs FC Tokyo (Yamaha Stadium) Tokyo Verdy vs Shimizu S-Pulse (Ajinomoto Stadium) Group C Consadole Sapporo vs Kawasaki Frontale (Muroran Stadium) JEF United vs Kashiwa Reysol (Fukuda Denshi Arena) Group D Omiya Ardija vs Yokohama F. Marinos (Omiya Park Stadium) Oita Trinita vs Albirex Niigata (Kyushu Oil Dome) In the pick of the J2 fixtures on March 20, Vegalta Sendai host Avispa Fukuoka in a clash of promotion hopefuls, Thespa Kusatsu take on unbeaten Yokohama FC, another unbeaten club in Sanfrecce Hiroshima travel to Shonan Bellmare, while Mito Hollyhock host Ventforet Kofu. On March 23 Yokohama FC host Sagan Tosu, Cerezo Osaka welcome Vegalta Sendai to Nagai Stadium, Sanfrecce Hiroshima face Mito Hollyhock at Big Arch, while FC Gifu host Tokushima Vortis in a Sunday evening clash. Keiji Tamada earns surprise recall to the Japan team Nagoya Grampus striker Keiji Tamada has earned a surprise recall to the Japan squad that travels to Manama to face Bahrain in a crucial World Cup qualifier on March 26. The 27-year-old has not featured for the national team since scoring against Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, after a series of injuries saw him lose his place in the Nagoya starting line-up under former Dutch coach Sef Vergoossen. Tamada has started both of Nagoya's league matches under new coach Dragan Stojkovic, however the experienced striker will battle with Vissel Kobe front man Yoshito Okubo for a place in the Japan starting line-up. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Junichi Inamoto also earned a recall from coach Takeshi Okada, although Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was not asked to make the arduous journey to the Gulf State. AFC Champions League under way Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka have experienced contrasting emotions in the AFC Champions League so far. 2007 J. League champions Kashima have scored an astonishing fifteen goals in their two matches so far, following up a 9-1 win away at Krung Thai Bank FC with a 6-0 demolition of hapless Nam Dinh at Kashima Stadium. Gamba Osaka, meanwhile, needed a late Lucas Severino strike to force a 1-1 draw with Thai side Chonburi FC at Expo '70 Stadium in Osaka, before they came from behind to beat Korean outfit Chunnam Dragons 4-3 in a thriller in Gwangyang, with striker Ryuji Bando scoring twice. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Bet with Bet 365 World Soccer News Soccer betting tips Soccer Books & DVDs Tags Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting

Even though I was brought up as a Catholic, I have never followed a spiritual path. I blame an over-zealous Priest for my descent into heresy; he was constantly on my back when I was young. If my memory serves me correctly, Easter is a time to reflect upon the resurrection of Christ. It’s believed that after three days, He rose again. I don’t want to diminish the significance, but I’d fancy Pele to beat that. The Geordies believe that King Keegan is the one true Messiah; it would be sacrilegious not to back Newcastle at 10/11 against Fulham. Jesus may have forgiven Robbie Keane for his petulant reaction to being substituted last weekend, but Juande Ramos was apoplectic. I have a lot of sympathy for Keane in this case; it’s an emotional time when you’re being pulled off. I’ll happily play with the even money for a Tottenham win over Portsmouth. John Carew may not be scoring regularly on the pitch, but if press reports are to be believed, he’s managed to bag ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star Alesha Dixon. I’ve seen pictures of Alesha, and one bag may not be enough. I’ll need a large container to carry home my winnings after Aston Villa see off Sunderland at 3/5. It’s rare that I shower praise upon Steve Bruce, but his decision to drop Titus Bramble was outstanding. Bruce knows what it takes to become a top class defender; he played alongside Gary Pallister. 4/5 had been placed alongside a Blackburn win over Wigan. I’m on. Thaksin Shinawatra is not a happy man. The Thai ‘businessman’ has reportedly claimed that City are losing too many games in his absence, and he may have to tighten the bolt on his return. If I was Sven, I’d be worried. I’d be ringing up Ulrika, but I’d certainly be worried. Bolton can ensure the bolt is tightened with a win at 6/4. Middlesbrough will be without Mido after he saw red for kicking Gael Clichy in the head. The Egyptian should be ashamed of his actions, as should the players who gave him the lift up. Let’s all rise to celebrate the 1/2 for a Middlesbrough win over Derby. I’m quite ashamed to admit that I have something in common with the impious Martin Taylor. We’re both often referred to as ‘tiny’, although for Martin, it’s an ironic reference. The 23/20 for a Reading win over Birmingham is healthily proportioned. It’s great to see the West Ham production line coming up trumps once again. Freddie Sears looks a great prospect, but I’m not overly impressed with the ‘Alan Shearer’ goal celebration; it takes too long to kick Neil Lennon, creosote a fence and unsettle the Newcastle management. Everton are going for a treble over the Hammers this season, I have to play at 3/4. Steven Gerrard was upset when Rio Ferdinand claimed that Liverpool were not among the best teams in Europe. To be fair to Rio, he was misquoted - he meant to say that Liverpool were not among the best teams in England. Liverpool have lost their last four league meetings with their bitter rivals, and have failed to score in their last six. United can extend that run at 11/10. Chelsea meet Arsenal in the 2nd part of Grand Slam Super Mega Awesome Sunday, in a dress rehearsal for the Champions League semi-final. I’ve studied Chelsea’s win ratio in the big games under Avram Grant, it didn’t take long. Arsenal are turning into draw specialists, I’ll happily take the 9/4 for a tie. Jesus would not be happy with the vitriolic abuse aimed at Heather Mills after her divorce from Paul McCartney. I look at it as a value gamble on Heather’s part, she risked negative press and the occasional slap for a healthy financial settlement. I was quite surprised that she received as much as £24m; I think she must have shown the judge a little leg. Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Everton and a Chelsea draw form a 13/1 accer that will hopefully lead to an equally impressive return. Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.com

Football links from World Cup Blog, The Offside and beyond… Interview with Patrick Vignal (France Blog) Possible replacements for Hugol (Mexico Blog) The Swedes who will face Brazil (Sweden Blog) Julian de Guzman puts soccer before sex (The Offside) Canada want those marbles (Molto Calcio) England vs USA friendly confirmed (EPL Talk) John Terry isn’t that injury prone, is he? (Kickette) 42 years [...]

As half-expected, David Beckham was named in Fabio Capello’s England 30-man England squad for the game against France next Wednesday. And if Becks plays (and it doesn’t seem likely Capello would jerk the guy around my naming him to the squad and then letting him rot on the bench, does it?) he’ll make his [...]

It’s Guatemala vs Honduras and USA vs Canada tonight in the excellently titled 2008 CONCACAF U-23 Men’s Pre-Olympic Tournament, possibly the only tournament on earth where the semifinals are more important that the final. That’s because the two winners tonight qualify for the Men’s Olympic Football tournament at the 2008 Olympics this summer. The US and [...]