footballworld

Ryan Giggs is playing the best football of his 20-year stint in Manchester United's first team, according to Old Trafford legend Sir Bobby Charlton. The 37-year-old Giggs, who this month broke Charlton's record of 606 league appearances for United, signed a one-year contract extension in February. He has now played a total of 867 games for the club, winning 11 league titles. "Last year, I thought that was the best he had ever played but this year he's been even better," said Charlton. "I don't know what he's putting in his tea but he's been at his peak again this season. "He's a great, great professional footballer and I'm ever so proud of him for what he's done, what he's still doing and what hopefully he'll continue to do. "He's got a gift and he's a credit to the game." The Cardiff-born midfielder was 17 when he made his league debut as a substitute against Everton on 2 March, 1991. His first start and goal came two months later, when United beat Manchester City 1-0. It was during the next season that Giggs emerged as a first-team regular. 

He would finish the campaign with a League Cup winner's medal and the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Subsequent seasons have seen him accumulate more silverware than any player in English football history and only two months ago he was named United's greatest player in a poll conducted by the club's official magazine and website. Having started as an old-fashioned winger, he has adapted his game to play a more withdrawn role in Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield. His importance to the team, however, has not changed, a fact recognised by last month's new deal. When asked for the secret to his longevity as a player, Giggs has talked about his yoga regime and the decision he took in 2007 to retire from international football, finishing his Wales career with 64 caps.Pleas for him to reconsider have been a constant theme during the last four years and, if anything, have intensified ahead of England's visit to Cardiff on Saturday. But Giggs has resisted the temptation to face England - the country he played for as a schoolboy - although he offered to help new Wales manager Gary Speed in the build-up to the European qualifier. This has led to speculation about what he will do when his playing days are over (and Giggs has made no secret of the fact he is currently taking coaching courses), but there is no doubt about his short-term goals: United's pursuit of a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble. "I hope we can finish it off for Ryan," said Charlton, who scored 199 league goals for United between 1956 and 1973. "I saw him when he was 15 and he first came to the club. Since that time he's not been anything other than good news. "He's just fantastic to work with as a player, (Ferguson) has told me this many times. He's unique."

Big-spending English giants Manchester City, Liverpool and Rangers crashed out of the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday to end Britain's interest in the competition. Roberto Mancini's City side, bank-rolled from Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mansour's £500 million investment, beat Dynamo Kiev 1-0 at Eastlands but bowed out 2-1 on aggregate. At Anfield a lacklustre Liverpool eked out a goalless draw with Sporting Braga to put the plucky Portuguese side through 1-0 on aggregate. Scottish giants Rangers, the finalists of the then UEFA Cup in 2008, had been in a strong position after coming away from their first leg at PSV Eindhoven with a scoreless stalemate. But a 13th minute goal from Jermain Lens meant it was the Dutch visitors rather than Rangers whose name went into Friday's draw. Joining PSV, Dynamo and Braga in the last eight were Benfica, FC Twente, Spartak Moscow, FC Porto, Villarreal. In Manchester, City were cut to 10 men in the 37th minute after Italian Mario Balotelli was shown a straight red for a dreadful, high one-footed lunge at Goran Popov in a bad-tempered clash that also saw seven yellow cards brandished. But the home side rebounded immediately after Balotelli's rash challenge through Aleksandar Kolarov, the Serb scoring from an indirect free-kick through a congested area. Over at Anfield, Liverpool striker Andy Carroll made his first start since his £35 million move from Newcastle in January. But Kenny Dalglish's men failed to find their spark against Braga who were progressing to the last eight of a European competition for the first time in their history.

Liverpool's sorry tally of only one goal in their last five Europa run-outs ultimately cost them dear. PSV qualified when catching Rangers on the break, with Lens sliding home Balazs Dzsudzsak's cross from the left.PSG went out 3-2 to Portugual's Benfica after the two teams finished 1-1 on the night. Nicolas Gaitan bagged that all-important away goal for the Lisbon-based club in the 27th minute, an ambitious left-footed shot swerving past the static Apoula Edel in goal.PSG responded eight minutes later, Mathieu Bodmer sending in a screamer of a right-foot volley into the corner of the net, but the Portuguese side held out. In Moscow, Spartak wrapped up a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate victory over toothless Ajax, the Russians winning 3-0 on the night courtesy of goals from Dmitri Kombarov, and Brazilian duo Welliton and Alex. There was no such luck for Spartak's domestic rivals Zenit St-Petersburg, whose 2-0 defeat of Dutch side FC Twente was not enough to overhaul a first-leg 3-0 deficit. And another Russian club, CSKA Moscow, lost 2-1 at FC Porto to go out 3-1 on aggregate, while Villarreal beat Bayer Leverkusen by the same scoreline to qualify 5-3 over the two legs.

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda scored a late penalty as England's injury-hit Under-21 side suffered a friendly defeat by Italy.Italy started well, Gianvito Misuraca forcing Frank Fielding into a low save. Josh McEachran's fine pass set up Scott Sinclair for England's best chance but he shot at the keeper when one-on-one. With two minutes to go Ben Mee was sent off for tripping Niccolo Giannetti and Macheda, on loan at Sampdoria, coolly slotted his penalty into the corner. The friendly in Empoli was an early opportunity for manager Stuart Pearce to cast his eye over players ahead of the Under-21 European Championships in Denmark this summer. However, the former Manchester City manager's options were severely limited with nine withdrawals from his squad, including five injured defenders in Martin Kelly, Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling and James Tomkins, while Kyle Walker was promoted to the senior squad.

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Bolton Wanderers' on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph had also previously withdrawn from the group. The missing players gave Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who has played 14 times for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season, the opportunity to feature for the Under-21 side for the second time. And the 17-year-old impressed with a neat passing game which was at the heart of England's most promising moves. Middleborough full-back Joe Bennett also came into the side for his Under-21 debut and he too showed quick feet and enthusiasm as England battled against a defensive and at times route one, Italian side.With little between the two teams in the opening 10 minutes, Pearce's options were further reduced when Everton's Jack Rodwell limped off and was replaced by Chelsea's Jack Cork at centre-back. The substitution almost led to the first goal for Italy when Vicenza striker Misuraca capitalized on confusion in the England backline and beat the offside trap before driving his effort low from the edge of the box, but a fine reflex save from Blackburn keeper Fielding kept the score level.

England, who were runners-up to Germany in Euro 2009, currently lead the European rankings and had hoped to put in a more convincing performance against a side who have not qualified for this summer's European Championships. Pearce sent on a trio of debutants in the second half in an attempt to liven up the game with Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in English football and has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, coming into the fray, along with Burnley's Jay Rodriguez and Leeds midfielder Jonathan Howson. The changes had the desired effect with Oxlade-Chamberlain showing a great turn of pace to create one of England's better chances as he breezed past his full-back and hit the byline, but no England player could tap in the cross from six yards. A delightful diagonal ball from McEachran teed up Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box as England looked to hit Italy on the counter attack but the 17-year-old side-footed a tame effort straight into the arms of Carlo Pinsoglio. England continued to dominate possession and with eight minutes to go finally made the Italian goalkeeper work.

A wonderful 40-yard pass by McEachran split the Italy centre-backs and put substitute Sinclair through one-on-one with Carlo Pinsoglio but the Swansea winger fired his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Sinclair almost made amends seconds later but his powerful effort from 18-yards was tipped around the post by Pinsoglio. Despite their dominance, England were hit by a sucker punch two minutes from time when Mee tripped Juventus striker Giannetti and Macheda nonchalantly slipped his penalty into the corner, handing Pearce only his sixth defeat in 44 matches in charge of the Under-21 side.