Chelsea are poised to sign versatile Dutch international defender Khalid Boulahrouz after agreeing a deal with German club Hamburg SV.Boulahrouz, 24, is due to travel to London at the weekend to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

Nicknamed “Khalid the Cannibal”, Boulahrouz joined Hamburg from RKC Waalwijk in the summer of 2004.

Capped 15 times by Holland, the centre-back started the last two Dutch World Cup games in Germany.

But he was red-carded in their defeat to Portugal in the last 16 stage, a stormy affair in which he was accused of deliberately trying to injure Cristiano Ronaldo with a thigh-high challenge.

“He is a good competitive player and will be a good addition to our squad,” Chelsea’s assistant manager Steve Clarke told Chelsea TV.

“He can play centre-back or either full-back position. I think he is right-footed and it is important to have one or two players around the squad who can play in a number of different positions.”

Boulahrouz’s arrival is unlikely to affect Chelsea’s pursuit of Ashley Cole, although could be a signal that they are prepared to allow Frenchman William Gallas to leave.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The crowd’s response was thought to stem from his actions in the quarter-final win over England, when striker Wayne Rooney was sent off.

But after Wednesday’s match in Munich, which France won 1-0, Ronaldo, 21, said: “I was pleased about being booed.

“Maybe France fans were upset to see a dangerous player. I’m not worried.” (more…)

They were too old, living on past glories, incapable of producing the fire and enthusiasm of their youth - a pale shadow of once glorious talent.

It was a view about Raymond Domenech’s team that was merely reinforced by a 1-1 stalemate against South Korea in their second group match.

The ageing legs of Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, winners in 1998, had outstayed their welcome on the World Cup stage. (more…)