Bremen look to down Spurs

Luka Modric marked his first start since August by scoring the opener as Tottenham Hotspur beat West Ham 2-0 at White Hart Lane on Monday to go fourth in the English Premier League table.Croatia midfielder Modric, out for several months with a broken leg, started and finished a length of the field move in the 11th minute to put Spurs ahead.England striker Jermain Defoe sealed victory against his old club with a fierce shot nine minutes from time.But Spurs will drop back down to fifth place if Aston Villa win at home to Liverpool on Tuesday.

After years of unquestioned supremacy as the top-to-bottom best soccer league in the world, the English Premier League has been chased down by the rest of Europe.  When it comes to elite players and elite teams, the best soccer on Earth is no longer being played in England.

Spain may have claimed the World Cup this summer, dumping out neighbouring Portugal along the way - but the boot was on the other foot Tuesday as Braga denied Sevilla a place in the lucrative Champions League group phase.Werder Bremen also qualified by the skin of their teeth, ousting Italy's Sampdoria in extra-time after coming back from three goals down, the 3-2 final scoreline enough to give the Germans a 5-4 win as ex-Chelsea man Claudio Pizarro struck crucially to make the difference.

England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suffered "minor ligament damage" and a scan of his injured ankle showed no fracture, his club said on Thursday."We're pleased to report that Wayne has not suffered a fracture. The scan revealed only minor ligament damage," a club spokeswoman told ManUtd.com, without saying how many games 24-year-old Rooney will miss.

Peter Crouch's own goal ensured Manchester City will make their debut in the Champions League next season as Roberto Mancini's side overcame Tottenham 1-0 at Eastlands on Tuesday.England striker Crouch broke City's hearts last season by scoring the winner which denied City a place at the top table of European football.But in a huge twist of fate, Crouch put past his own keeper while trying to clear a 30th minute cross by James Milner to guarantee FA Cup finalists City's a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur missed out on a loan for David Beckham but another right midfielder in Andros Townsend scored the opener in their 3-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Charlton at White Hart Lane here Sunday.Harry Redknapp had wanted Beckham as cover for Aaron Lennon, so Townsend?s performance at least indicated the Spurs manager does have options.Jermain Defoe, playing against the club he left early in his career, was jeered by away supporters but added the other second-half goals.

England coach Fabio Capello suffered a double injury blow on Thursday as Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and Arsenal winger Theo Walcott were ruled out for up to six weeks.Defoe will be sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the second half of England's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Basel on Tuesday.Walcott was forced off in the first half of the Switzerland match after colliding with a defender in the build-up to Wayne Rooney's early goal.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is banking on striker Eidur Gudjohnsen to fire his team to the FA Cup semi-finals when they meet London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.Redknapp was without Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and striker Jermain Defoe for Saturday's win at Stoke and is now sweating over the fitness of Roman Pavlyuchenko who limped off with a hamstring strain.This means Peter Crouch and Gudjohnsen are likely to be the only fit strikers available for Spurs' quarter-final replay clash.