World Cup stage fires Sheringham

Teddy Sheringham was drummed out of the last World Cup by popular acclaim, replaced by the coming man, Michael Owen. How sweet it must be, therefore, for Sheringham to be the player called up when Owen is injured three years down the line.

Sheringham, now 35, does not intend to stop at just Saturday's final World Cup qualifier against Greece. Next summer's tournament, in Japan and South Korea, is on the veteran's agenda as he seeks to make up for the disappointments of 1994 and 1998.

"I would love to be involved in the finals should we get through," he said yesterday. "As a footballer you should want to be there. It is my ambition to be there as long as my legs keep going. You are a long time finished in football and if I didn't think I could handle it I wouldn't want to be there."

Sheringham was one of the forwards whose missed chances, in Norway eight years ago, ultimately cost England a place at USA 94. He was influential in England making it to the next tournament, scoring three times in the qualifying campaign, but was replaced by Owen midway through England's second match. He did not play again in France and has only started two internationals since.

It was thought he was too old but, unlike his former striking partner, Alan Shearer, Sheringham never made himself unavailable. He enjoyed success at Manchester United, but infrequent appearances affected his international chances. Since his return to White Hart Lane, however, he is playing regularly and well. He added: "Even at 35 the chance to play for England means the same to me as it ever did. It is for others to say how well I have been doing. I am enjoying my football, but I feel there is still better to come."

The Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, a former team-mate of Sheringham's, was passed fit yesterday to join the England squad. He suffered a rib injury in the 5-3 win over Spurs at the weekend.

The news was not so rosy for Peter Taylor. The FA confirmed there is no vacancy in the current set-up for the former Under-21 coach who was sacked by Leicester on Sunday. Taylor took charge of the senior side as recently as November and was a member of Sven Goran Eriksson's staff until resigning to concentrate on his task at Leicester.

At least Taylor can be comforted that the rise in interest in the Under-21s, which began under his command, continues apace. While some England supporters wait to see if, as for the Albania match at Newcastle, tickets are returned from the members' club to go on general sale others have been rushing to watch the Under-21s.

David Platt's team, who have lost Owen Hargreaves and Titus Bramble through injury, play Greece at Ewood Park on Friday night and also need a win to top their qualifying group. More than 18,000 tickets have been sold. The Football Association hopes to sell almost all the 28,000 available for home fans.

There was more good news for the governing body when AXA, the sponsors of the FA Cup, apologised for accusing the FA of acting "unprofessionally" when unveiling their new sponsorship strategy on Friday. The FA had announced it intends to reduce the number of main sponsors from 10 to five with each being involved with both the FA Cup and the England team.

AXA, who paid £25m over four years to sponsor the FA Cup, claimed they had only learned of the change from the media. Phil Hickley, AXA's head of corporate affairs, said: "You would have thought the FA would have had enough courtesy, if not professionalism, to inform one of their main sponsors. It's staggering really." The FA responded by threatening legal action due to the potentially defamatory charge of having acted "unprofessionally". It said a sponsors' briefing had warned of potential changes and there had also been media reports before the insurance firm were notified.

AXA rapidly backed off and, yesterday, issued an apologetic statement. In it they expressed "regret" at "a mutual breakdown in the communication and consultation process" and withdrew "the assertion that the FA had acted unprofessionally".

Their current deal ends next summer. Though they added "constructive discussions" had commenced with the FA regarding future sponsorship, another agreement would appear, in the circumstances, unlikely.