Vettel back on pole at Hungaroring

Sebastian Vettel has qualified on pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images

Sebastian Vettel claimed his eighth pole of the season, for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, and in so doing, ensured Red Bull still remain the only team to have held the spot all season. With both McLaren and Ferrari having proved in practice that their single-lap pace is now much closer to the Red Bull, Vettel had to throw down a perfect lap in the last seconds of qualifying three to pip Lewis Hamilton into second and Jenson Button into third.

Increasingly under pressure and after Vettel had called on his team to "raise their game" on Friday night, Red Bull took the unusual step of breaking the curfew limit that restricts work on the car between 2am and 8am. The curfew can be broken four times per season without penalty but this is the first time the team have done so and it seems to have worked out.

"We changed a lot on the car overnight and the boys were working pretty hard and didn't get much sleep, but I think if we have a result like this it's the best way to say thanks," the world champion said afterwards.

All the major players went through the first two qualifying sessions without mishap using the prime (soft) tyres, although in slightly higher temperatures than during practice. Immediately opting for the option (super-soft) tyres, Fernando Alonso was first out in the last session but Hamilton remained the leader after the opening laps. Expecting better times from one more shot, the leaders opted to go for a second run in the last two minutes.

Alonso was again out first, looking for a clean lap, having caught Mark Webber at the end of his first outing, but he was swiftly followed by Hamilton, who immediately took provisional pole from the Spaniard.

It did not last long. Vettel pumped in one of the best laps of the weekend to secure provisional pole, with a time of 1min 19.815sec. Button followed him but could manage only third, nonetheless his best grid position for five races, while Felipe Massa took a great fourth place, bumping Alonso into fifth and confirming Vettel's place at the front of the grid. Webber, who won here last year, had Kers problems early in the session and was disappointed with sixth. "Third row is not where I want to be – I didn't get the best out of the car and out of the tyres," he said.

Vettel, unsurprisingly, returned to parc ferme with his usual enthusiastic pole celebration: "Yes! That's what I'm talking about," he exclaimed from the cockpit and said afterwards: "I've got the confidence back. Today I felt much more comfortable in the car and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Hamilton, who had looked confident himself all weekend, might have expected he would finally break Red Bull's dominance at the front but he did finish within 0.163 of Vettel and remained optimistic: "I'm very excited about the race, because we had quite a good, long run yesterday and we'll work hard to build on that pace overnight. We're in the fight and, with a good start, we can definitely challenge for the win."

His team-mate, Button, starting his 200th grand prix on Sunday, feels that with the new tyres, DRS and Kers, the procession that so often occurs here in Hungary may still be avoided, and he too was upbeat: "It's nice to be in a position to drive for a win from the outset, and that's definitely what I'll be attempting to do," he said.

Ferrari may also have expected more here after their pace in Germany, but for Massa, who starts ahead of his team-mate for the first time this year, the race may reveal more. "Usually our rivals find something extra for qualifying and we make a step forward in the race; we will see tomorrow if this unwritten rule is confirmed at this track, I hope I have a car that is competitive," he said.

As always on this underused track, grip improved significantly between Friday and Saturday and, although there may be rain overnight, a dry race is expected. With the super-soft tyres around half a second quicker over a 10-lap run, three or four stops is to be expected, with teams evaluating how long they can run each set of option tyres before reverting to the prime (soft) rubber for the final stint. There have also been grip issues raised around the final corner, which may offer opportunities for cars entering the DRS zone on the start-finish straight.

Having lined up next to Vettel on the front row in Australia and Malaysia already this season, and seen the German go on to win both races, Hamilton will be hoping for better this time. He starts on the dirty side of the grid on Sunday. "Fingers crossed the track is clean," he said. "I hope they're cleaning it tonight to give us a good opportunity to have a fair fight down to turn one." It might yet prove crucial on a circuit where overtaking has traditionally only taken place in the pit lane.

1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1min 19.815sec, 2 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1:19.978, 3 Jenson Button (GB) McLaren 1:20.024, 4 Felipe Massa (Br) Ferrari 1:20.350, 5 Fernando Alonso (Sp) Ferrari 1:20.365, 6 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:20.474, 7 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:21.098, 8 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:21.445, 9 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes 1:21.907, 10 Sergio Perez (Mex) Sauber-Ferrari no time, 11 Paul di Resta (GB) Force India 1:22.256, 12 Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault 1:22.284, 13 Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Sauber-Ferrari 1:22.435 ,14 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Renault 1:22.470, 15 Rubens Barrichello (Br) Williams 1:22.684, 16 Jaime Alguersuari (Sp) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:22.979, 17 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams no time, 18 Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:24.070, 19 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Lotus 1:24.362, 20 Jarno Trulli (It) Lotus 1:24.534, 21 Timo Glock (Ger) Virgin Racing 1:26.294, 22 Vitantonio Liuzzi (It) HRT-F1 1:26.323, 23 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) HRT-F1 1:26.479, 24 Jerome d'Ambrosio (Bel) Virgin Racing 1:26.510.

Buemi will start the race from 23rd due to a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision at the German Grand Prix

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Arsène Wenger still has work to do as Boca Juniors claim a 2-2 draw

Robin van Persie scored Arsenal's first in the 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors in the Emirates Cup. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images

Arsenal's endless summer saga of where Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas may ply their trade next paused briefly for a home bow against Diego Maradona's old club before Arsene Wenger, yet again, addressed the issue.

Regarding Nasri, who has a year left on his contract and is interesting Manchester City, Wenger informed him for the first time publicly that he should make a decision. "In the next 10 days it has to be clear on that front. If you ask me, do I want to keep him, I say yes. But he needs to be committed to that as well."

Wenger had included Fabregas in his ultimatum of 10 days, but, pressed on this, he softened the stance. "I don't give them 10 days, the transfer period is until 31 August. Ideally, we go into big games in the next two weeks, so in the next two weeks we need to sort our problems out, but there is no specific deadline of one day or 24 hours."

On Friday, Wenger had stated that, despite Fabregas wanting to leave for Barcelona, he would not be allowed to do so for less than Arsenal's valuation, with the Catalan club so far not returning with an improvement on their ?27m bid earlier this summer.

Yet Wenger conceded that Nasri, if he does remain beyond September, could walk away next summer for free. Asked how much of a concern this would be, the manager conceded the point. "It's not ideal for us, of course, on the financial side, but, on the sporting side, he is an important player," Wenger said.

Gervinho's performance in a first-half cameo against Boca had suggested he may prove a vital performer this season. Yet, while the 24-year-old has a directness so chronically missing from these parts recently, Arsenal's concession of a two-goal advantage indicated their old problem of defensive brittleness may yet haunt Wenger's men again.

Once more, Fabregas was not included because of a hamstring problem – he is yet to feature this pre-season and may never again do so – while Nasri lined up in his familiar wide-left berth. This was a starting XI that missed Wojciech Szczesny, Alex Song, Bacary Sagna, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs from the strongest Wenger might field.

At its head was Gervinho, the ?11m signing from Lille whose first telling contribution was to create Robin van Persie's opener. Peeling away from his central attacking position to the left, Gervinho took possession from a clever Jack Wilshere pass before pinging in a cross that Van Persie smashed home.

After the break, the substitute Aaron Ramsey smacked home Arsenal's second with his first touch, but the Gunners' flakiness then showed. A mistake by Sebastien Squillaci too near goal allowed Juan Riquelme to find Lucas Viatri, who pulled the first one back for the visitors.

Next, Johan Djourou let Pablo Mouche mug him, then slide home beyond Vito Mannone. Wenger claimed he was not concerned by the lapse, but he has some hard thinking to do on a few fronts.

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Harry Redknapp confirms Tottenham interest in signing Juan Mata

Tottenham's manager Harry Redknapp pictured before his side beat Brighton 3-2 in their friendly match. Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Harry Redknapp has confirmed Tottenham Hotspur's interest in signing the Spain international Juan Mata from Valencia, but has dismissed claims that the winger's arrival could pave the way for Luka Modric to leave the club.

Modric, who admitted that he wanted to join Chelsea earlier in the summer, missed Tottenham's 3-2 friendly win over Brighton & Hove Albion with a virus, although the Croat is expected to feature against Athletic Bilbao at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Spurs' interest in Mata is believed to have been registered on Friday night, when they offered €25m (?22m) for the Spanish World Cup winner.

Redknapp said: "[Mata] is a player that we like. So do Arsenal and so do other clubs. I went to watch him when England Under-21 played Spain and I thought he looked fantastic.

"The chairman has been dealing with it so where it is I don't know – I don't deal with them transfers. I wouldn't want to say that it isn't happening in case we sign him tomorrow and you all say 'thanks Harry', but he's a player we like."

Modric's future will likely be debated until the transfer window closes, with Manchester United also interested in the playmaker, although his relationship with Redknapp and the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, is believed to have improved of late and sources at the club are optimistic he will stay.

"I can't fault his attitude; he's been first class with me," Redknapp said. "We have had a difficult period with him, but he has trained well and I don't think you could meet a better professional.

"He came into training yesterday and he felt ill. Then he saw the doctor this morning and he had ulcers at the back of his throat and was pretty rough. The doctor told me he couldn't play."

Despite being able to field two different XIs on consecutive days against Leyton Orient and Brighton, Redknapp believes Spurs must add to their squad.

"I hope we can," he said. "I hope so because, at the moment, we have a problem. Sandro is out for three months and Tom Huddlestone has to see a specialist. Wilson Palacios is just coming back, so in terms of senior [midfield] players we only have Luka Modric and Jermaine Jenas, so it's an area we do need to strengthen for sure."

Redknapp's preparations for the forthcoming season suffered a fresh setback when Rafael van der Vaart asked to be substituted after injuring his ankle in the first half against Brighton. Tottenham have, however, ruled out a move for Scott Parker.

The approach for Mata offers intrigue for its audacity and because it is unclear where Spurs would accommodate the 23-year-old, who plays either as a left-winger or behind a central striker, in a first-choice XI that already contains Gareth Bale, Van der Vaart and Modric.

But such concerns have not dissuaded Spurs from signing players in the past and Redknapp's assertion that Bale will eventually drop back to full-back could prove instructive.

Bale was among Spurs' brighter players against Brighton, who were marking the official opening of their new 22,500-seater home, the Amex Stadium.

Ashley Barnes put the newly-promoted Championship side ahead after 10 minutes, but Younes Kaboul and Vedran Corluka put Spurs ahead, and Jake Livermore scored the winning goal for the visitors after Kazenga LuaLua scored Albion's second with a fizzing long-range effort.

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Bolton's Lee Chung-yong out for nine months after breaking leg

Bolton's Lee Chung-yong is attended by the physiotherapist Andy Mitchell after going down injured at Newport. Photograph: Ian Smith/Action Images

The Bolton Wanderers midfielder Lee Chung-yong will be out for a minimum of nine months after breaking a leg in a pre-season friendly at Newport.

The 23-year-old South Korea international underwent a successful operation after sustaining a double fracture of his lower right leg during Wanderers' 3-1 win in south Wales on Saturday. He was carried off on a stretcher midway through the first half following a rash challenge from Tom Miller.

The club posted a statement on their website on Saturday evening confirming he was recovering in hospital and was expected to be sidelined for the bulk of the 2011-12 campaign.

Lee joined Bolton from FC Seoul in summer 2009 and has been a consistent performer for the Trotters over the past two years.

Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, said: "We will make sure Chung-yong gets all the support he needs, as now it is all about his recovery and wellbeing. That is the most important thing. The operation went well and we would like to pass on our thanks to the medical staff involved."

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Tattenham Corner

Emma Spencer, a familiar face on Channel 4's racing coverage, finished second in the ladies' day charity race at Glorious Goodwood. Photograph: Jon Furniss/WireImage

Emma Spencer, the Channel 4 racing presenter, was out of luck in the ladies' charity race at Goodwood on Thursday but it has been a more productive week for her brother, Anthony Ramsden. Like his father, Jack, Anthony is a renowned punter and said to be one of the country's most successful gamblers. But it was as an owner that he shone on Monday when his colours were carried to victory in a Grade Two race at Del Mar in California by the impressive Up In Time, trained by the former Newmarket handler Simon Callaghan.

Frankel's trainer, Sir Henry Cecil, came home to three cheers from the crowd after his colt's Sussex Stakes victory on Wednesday, but one traditional part of Glorious Goodwood appealed less to him. Cecil was sporting a panama hat in the Goodwood colours on Friday and admitted: "I don't think that I look very good in one. I look like an idiot."

Additional musical entertainment after racing proved one of the success stories of the week at Goodwood, with a sizeable proportion of the crowd staying into the evening without any obvious signs of misbehaviour. But when the band located adjacent to the pre-parade ring struck up Let's Go to the Hop in between races on the first day of the meeting, not everybody was impressed. One trainer, whose two-year-old was showing clear signs of becoming distressed by the noise, somewhat curtly informed a guitarist as to what he'd do with the instrument if the music did not swiftly end. It did.

A couple of major owners were entitled to wince at the results at Goodwood on Thursday. A couple of weeks after Sir Robert Ogden sold Casual Glimpse for 83,000 guineas, the three-year-old looked worth every bit of that when winning a competitive handicap for his new owners. Meanwhile, Lost In The Moment looks a smart staying prospect for Godolphin after just being touched off in the Goodwood Cup. The four-year-old was sold for 130,000 guineas last year by the British Horseracing Authority chairman, Paul Roy, and Michael Tabor, having landed a huge gamble when winning his first start in a handicap.

Alan Spence, the Chelsea vice-president and leading racehorse owner, was sporting what looked like a nasty selection of wounds on his forehead at Goodwood. But it was by no means as bad as it looked, as the affable Spence had suffered an unexpected allergic reaction to after-sun cream.

The former Liverpool and German international footballer Dietmar Hamann was roped in to help with Thursday's draw for Saturday's Stewards' Cup, but he ducked out of suggesting which horse would win the big handicap. Hamann, now the manager of Stockport County, is a well-known enthusiast of the sport and used to write a column in the Racing Post, but was reported to have racked up a gambling debt of ?600,000 several years ago. "I couldn't pick the winner of a four-runner race yesterday, so I don't think I can pick the winner of this," said Hamann, who evidently was not a supporter of Frankel.

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Manchester United have post-Sir Alex Ferguson plan, says David Gill

Manchester United chief executive David Gill (right) with Seattle Sounders owner Joe Roth pose before the pre-season friendly between their clubs. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive, has acknowledged he will always be unpopular with some supporters – the "anti-people", as he describes them – but he has spoken of his belief that the Glazer family have now won over the majority of the club's fans.

Gill, describing the Glazers as "genuinely long-term owners", reiterated the point by revealing that he and the American owners already have a strategy in place for when Sir Alex Ferguson retires. He said: "What we're trying to do is make sure we get the quality of team and the correct age profile so the new manager coming in, whoever that might be, has the nucleus of a world-class team."

Gill expects the Glazers to still be in control when Ferguson ends his long association with the club, but he was candid enough to accept that his comments would go down badly among the fans who were involved in the green-and-gold protest movement.

"We are never going to win [over] those people," he said. "If we won four European Cups in a row, there will be certain people who won't like the owners and what they stand for. The anti-people were here before the Glazers. But we are running the club for the vast majority of millions of fans around the world who believe the club is moving in the right direction.

"The minority – Must [Manchester United Supporters' Trust] etc – will always be against it, but the vast majority can't be dissatisfied with the seasons we've had [under the Glazers]."

The campaign against the Glazers has become less visible, in Gill's words, "once the Red Knights went away," referring to the consortium of businessmen who embarked on a failed bid to buy the club. "The green-and-gold campaign has not disappeared completely, but it has died down dramatically during the past season and we move on," he said.

Gill, speaking on the club's pre-season tour of the United States, dismissed the allegation that the Glazers, with an average net spend of ?2.5m in their first six seasons, had not backed Ferguson sufficiently in the transfer market, citing the arrival of Ashley Young, David de Gea and Phil Jones for a combined ?50m this summer. "One thing the owners have never shied away from is supporting Alex in terms of investment."

Similarly, he rejected the argument that the Florida-based businessmen had unfairly hiked ticket prices. "They are sensible prices to watch top-class entertainment and players worth millions on view. Other clubs have clearly raised their prices more than us," he said.

Gill has been singled out for particular criticism because of the way he fought against the Glazer takeover in 2005, once infamously saying that "debt was the road to ruin", before siding with the new owners and turning against the supporters' groups he had previously backed. "You say I did a volte-face, but we are going back many years now," he said. "Directors and chief executives aren't often liked, but I am trying to look after the employers and the fans, and there will always be an element among the fans who don't like you."

At times the anger has manifested itself in something more sinister, with graffiti appearing on his house and several incidents that have led to increased security. "It has calmed down now. It would be naive to say you don't want it to happen, not necessarily for yourself but because of your young children, but you just move on. I have never sought a profile; I just try to do my best for the club."

His son, Oliver, was booed when he was named as a substitute for one match, and has recently turned down the offer of a contract with the club to go to university. Gill, however, says it is unrelated. "He did take some stick, but he is quite a strong character. I don't think he ever thought like that."

Going into a season during which Ferguson will turn 70 and mark his 25th anniversary at the club, Gill talked about himself and the Glazers planning ahead to when the most successful manager in the business retires. "There won't be meltdown. It will clearly be a sea change for the club and we have to be ready."

He will be in charge of appointing the successor, although Ferguson will also be heavily involved. "I will co-ordinate the process, but, clearly, I will take great store in what he [Ferguson] says and what other key people at the club say. The owners will clearly have a view. All these things will come together. It would be a collective body, not a big body, but we would get all the input to make sure we make the appropriate choice."

There was no one in mind yet, he added, and he was unclear when Ferguson would stand down. "We never discuss it, put it that way. He delegates well and football keeps him young."

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The Nursery End

Eric Clapton was desperate to see India's Sachin Tendulkar score his 100th international hundred at Lord's. Photograph: Brian Rasic/Rex Features

The richly entertaining fans' website Middlesex Till We Die has an amusing glossary of nicknames for their heroes, ranging from the inspired "Dial M" for Tim Murtagh, to the more run-of-the-mill "Iceman" for Gareth Berg. Dawid Malan is "AC" after Inter's neighbours, Dan Housego is "The Estage Agent", Adam London "Streets Of", Neil Dexter "Ted" (but there is a campaign The Nursery End backs to rename him "Uni" in memory of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's Tarzan audition sketch One Leg Too Few) and Paul Stirling is "Pounds". One, however, may need an update. Andrew Strauss is known as "OBE", as in "only bats for England". "Obeas" would be more fitting now, "only bats for England and Somerset", or "ZZ Top" from "Zummerzet's Ztrauzz".

When Charl Willoughby dismissed Worcestershire's Saeed Ajmal on Wednesday morning it registered his 339th first-class wicket for Somerset. A rather arbitrary milestone for a celebration, you would think, but not when you consider that it took him past Joel Garner's career-haul of 338 wickets for the club and Willoughby has surpassed it in fewer matches. The South African, who has not missed a match for five years, said: "I have always wanted to get past those figures and I managed them with games to spare." One thing he will never better, though, is Big Bird's wit. Once when the fast bowler was approached by an admirer, he was asked the very question that he fielded numerous times each day. "Mr Garner," she asked. "How tall are you?" "I'm 6ft 8in," he replied. "And is everything in proportion?" was the saucy followup. "Oh no," Garner said. "If it was I'd be 8ft 6in."

Eric Clapton made his annual pilgrimage to Lord's for the first Test against India and was spotted alongside his friends Sir Ian Botham and Wasim Akram. "Eric loves his cricket and he was hoping for Sachin to get that hundred," Akram revealed. "'Will Sachin get it?' he kept asking me. 'I thought you would be backing England,' I said, and he replied: 'No, no. I want to see him score that hundred'." Tendulkar is a Dire Straits man, meeting his idol Mark Knopfler in Mumbai in 2005, giving him a signed bat with the local hero receiving an autographed guitar in return. For Clapton, Tendulkar's illness and inability to score that 100th hundred became a case of money for nothing .

Matthew Hayden has announced that he is coming out of retirement to play for Brisbane Heat in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash competition. "Now is the time to start turning up the Heat," the 39-year-old opener cheesily pronounced before explaining why he has also chosen to make an investment and become a part-owner of the franchise in a welter of barking business speak. "T20 brings a new energy to the sporting landscape in a space I refer to as entertainment," Brent … er … Hayden said. "An eight-team Big Bash league has relaunched my interest as a highly viable business decision." He will line up alongside Heat imports Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum, and has said he would love to have Andrew Symonds on board. The Brisbane Times points out one stumbling block to that dream team. In 2009 during a radio interview with Roy and HG, Symonds called McCullum "a lump of shit". Add "s-bomb disposal expert" to Hayden's already chunky portfolio.

One player who won't be taking part in the Big Bash is Australia's Test and 50-overs captain, Michael Clarke. Another casualty of his decision to focus on the responsibilities of leading Australia's revival is his long-standing contract with Bond's, the underwear manufacturer, which has featured Pup in his undercrackers in a series of adverts. His management team apparently feel that posing in underpants is not the right image for the man charged with upholding the honour of the Baggy Green. The emperor's new clothes he wears as part of his new job, however, are fine by them.

The Cheltenham Festival match between Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire was graced by what John Arlott memorably once called a "freaker". The mystery exhibitionist jumped out of this seat, sprinted across the pitch twice and returned to the stands unmolested by security staff. Cue Somerset fans' quip about him getting away with it at Gloucestershire because there were no witnesses.

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Premier League must wait until March for goalline technology decision

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore believes goalline technology can be implemented for the 2012/13 season. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Premier League will discover in March whether Fifa are to sanction the introduction of goalline technology, with the chief executive, Richard Scudamore, confident the league will then be "at the absolute forefront" in implementing it in time for the 2012-13 season.

Scudamore has long advocated the introduction of cameras in the goalmouth to determine whether the ball has crossed the line in a bid to avoid controversies such as Frank Lampard's 'ghost goal' for England against Germany at last summer's World Cup, or Chelsea's equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur in April. The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, had previously been opposed to the use of such technology, though his stance has shifted more recently and the governing body is expected to approve the scheme in the spring.

"In March, Fifa will look at the technology," Scudamore said. "I hope there will be multiple suppliers who meet Fifa's criteria, and I would hope Fifa approve the suppliers who can do the job and then we can talk to them about putting them in Premier League grounds. It won't be a test; once it's in, it's in. It has got to work before we put it in, of course – we are not going to risk our competition on stuff that doesn't work – and the signal has to be instant and accurate, but the technology people have to convince Fifa of that. Once Fifa approve those companies then we, the Premier League, will be in the absolute forefront of any move to bring it in."

The Premier League and its members have been in favour of goalline technology in principle for more than three years, with frustration having built up since at Fifa's reluctance to pursue the issue. However, should it be implemented, it seems likely that calls to widen the potential use of cameras and replays to assist match officials in calls for penalties and offside decisions will escalate.

"That debate will continue," said Scudamore, who was in Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy, a pre-season tournament that could be mirrored with similar events in the United States and Africa in future. "But a ball crossing a line is an absolute matter of fact. Anything else is a matter of opinion; whether it was a foul or not or whether it was inside or outside the box. There is so much more subjectivity. Why we are so overwhelmingly supportive of goalline technology is because the answer is yes or no."

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Mike Selvey's verdict on the second day

England's Kevin Pietersen, left, watches India's Youvraj Singh, whom he dropped, take a run. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Of all the clever things Kevin Pietersen has done on the field of play, dropping Yuvraj Singh was not high on the list. Yuvraj, his bete noire, the pie thrower who headed what was to become a queue of left-arm slow bowlers all itching to have a crack at him. He does not much care for Yuvraj and the feeling is mutual.

After a difficult morning, England had just got themselves back into the contest with the wickets, in short order, of the Tubby Titan and an apprehensive Suresh Raina when Yuvraj strode to the crease. Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, adrenaline pumping now and their tails up, were in the mood. Yuvraj slashed at Broad and found the boundary. He tried again, made less convincing contact and steered the ball straight to Pietersen, who put down the catch.

Was he unsighted as the ball came out of a background of the sea of bodies in the New Stand? Perhaps. But it was one to be taken. Broad, ecstatic later, could scarcely contain his disappointment. That would have been 144 for five and on such moments hinge the outcome of matches.

Instead, shortly after tea, it was Rahul Dravid's deft angle to third man, with the new ball approaching, that gave India the lead and no further wicket had fallen. Their eventual partnership of 128, before Broad's remarkable intervention, was quite possibly the crucial one of what clearly will be a low-scoring match.

For two Test matches now, while all the talk has been of other things, it has been Dravid, the rock on which this Indian batting is built, who has held things together. At Lord's, he scored a beautiful century, a product not just of his skill and determination, but of the recent work he is said to have put in with Duncan Fletcher, an outstanding batting coach, when in the Caribbean.

If that had been an innings that might have defined his role within the team, then this century, scored in the Trent Bridge sunshine, was perhaps even more momentous. At Lord's he survived a catch in the slips and made England pay for it. This time, until he uppercut to third man as he tried to cash in with only the rabbits for company, he did not even give them a sniff. An innings utterly relentless, chanceless for hour upon hour, six hours and 10 minutes worth – a miracle in itself given the manner in which the ball still behaved, if not as malevolently as the first day when India bowled under cloud and it sang like a canary – then still capriciously for the seamers.

What he offered, for those who like to look beyond the mere statistical evidence of his achievement, was a masterclass in how to cope with the moving ball and certainly a different way to that which Pietersen had used during his masterful double hundred at Lord's.

There was Pietersen, an imposing figure, standing down the pitch to negate the swing of Kumar, and, placing himself on or outside offstump, in order to cover the away swing and work the leg side. India found themselves powerless such was his dominance.

And now here we had the slight figure of Dravid showing that a cat can be skinned in more ways than one. There are no extravagant movements or triggers from him, no forward press so beloved of his new tutor.

Instead he remains still as the bowler delivers, still but balanced and without being static: he is free to move as necessary. Yet somehow, he manages to play swing by staying leg side of the ball, his right foot, the anchor, rarely straying from the line of leg stump. So good is his judgement of line and length, so clever is he at reading the signs of the swing and the intentions of the bowlers, that he was able to leave the ball impeccably and play it late when not.

The structure of his innings tells its story. His first 50 runs, scored at a time when the going was at its toughest, took as many overs and came from 131 deliveries. Of these, 10 were hit to the boundary, there were two twos and half a dozen singles, which means that 113 balls were missed (content to play the line and not be drawn away from it, only once was he seduced into following the deviation in a way that brought his downfall in the second innings at Lord's), flagged through or played defensively. He waited his moment and scored in chosen areas, boundaries angled deftly, infuriatingly, to third man, that no-go area for England fielders. But more than half his runs came on the leg side, clipped away when the bowling strayed on to his pads. Scarcely anything that was not a long half-volley was played attackingly on the drive, for this, he reasoned, with the ball swinging, is not a driving pitch.

Then, with the ball soft, and the clouds banished, he changed the tempo of his game. His scoring rate increased, but his boundary count was slashed.

With Yuvraj, there were runs to be collected in ones and twos as the seamers faded and, with the new ball in mind, Strauss turned to Pietersen and Graeme Swann, treated with some disdain. The leg glance that took him to three figures, from a further 78 deliveries, was only his third boundary since his half-century.

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Playing the coach in front of your peers deserves a badge of courage | David James

David James, top right, trains with fellow goalkeepers Robert Green, front, and Joe Hart while on England duty. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Fifa via Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion may sound an unlikely place for a footballer to spend their summer holiday, but, along with my old Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler and around two dozen others from the football fraternity, that is exactly where I passed a happy fortnight this year. We weren't on a footballers' jolly, we were there to gain our Level B coaching badges.

I have to admit I was a bit anxious about the whole thing beforehand. On a two-week residential course, I am prone to cabin fever; I'm not the best at getting on with people over a long period of time. So on the first day, when we were told by one of the coaches: "You will make friends for life here," I remember thinking: "Yeah, right." Robbie Fowler is about as close as I get to a friend for life – having known him for so many years – and I hardly ever speak to him.

But I soon discovered a really nice bunch of lads (I mean "men", I have vowed to stop using the term "lads" when I really mean grown-ups) representing a diverse range of ages and football experiences. One thing in particular that really impressed me was how those on the course were not there to get paid and continue the "football lifestyle", they were genuinely interested in coaching.

Together we ended up learning a lot. While in the past the emphasis has been on fast-tracking players through the badges with an over-reliance on the misconception that experienced players make accomplished managers, this year, the FA have launched a new and more in-depth course to try to give would-be coaches and managers a better grounding in the job.

At first, myself and a few others were rather sceptical of this new structure; there was a fair bit of moaning on hearing that, in other parts of the British Isles, the exact same qualification would take considerably less time to complete. My former Manchester City team-mate Antoine Sibierski was one of those on the shorter course and I made sure we kept in touch via text to compare how he was getting on. But, in the end, I have to admit the new course makes a lot of sense. It wasn't rushed, so what we learned really sank in. We got to experience coaching situations, rather than just read about them in a textbook with the aim of passing an exam.

Football culture has long assumed players already have the tools to be managers. With that kind of attitude, it is easy to see how English managers of the past might have gone through the old system believing they already know everything, with the qualification itself viewed as a mere formality. I'll admit that I have spent much of the past 10-15 years in goal watching training sessions and thinking I could put on something much better myself. I must have spent hours moaning to colleagues about how things could be improved. But when it comes down to doing it yourself, it is a very different story.

For the uninitiated, putting on a 25?minute coaching session is a nerve-racking experience. I genuinely felt anxious going up in front of my peers and telling a bunch of outfield players what to do. Some may argue this is exactly the sort of thing new managers learn on the job, but if you walk into a dressing room and lose their respect on the first day, I know – as a player – that it is very difficult to turn that situation around.

Of course, economics has to come into it. If you're a current player doing your badges you can afford the course fees, you can afford to take your time over things, but the situation is less straightforward for someone out of work, who just needs a wage to pay the bills. With the economic climate as it is, and English managers seemingly unfashionable to employ, competition for managerial places is ridiculously high. We were told that for a recently advertised lower league position there were more than 50 applicants. That in itself makes you realise why some might be in a rush to get straight on the career ladder. But if former England managers such as Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson are plying their trade outside the Premier League, what realistic hope is there for the rest of us – unless we really up our game?

In addition, rumours abound that the employment process in football continues to operate far too informally – jobs for the boys and all that. Hopefully, the FA's new emphasis on quality will greatly improve the standard of managerial candidates coming through in English football, but I can't help thinking these qualifications should come with a grading. As it stands, you can either pass or fail your badges. But if candidates were graded on the strength of their performances, managerial appointments might be based on quality, rather than who you are mates with.

David James has donated his fee for this column to charity

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Third place leaves Christine Ohuruogu needing discretionary selection

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu (right) finishes third as Perri Shakes-Drayton wins the 400 metres at the UK trials. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Christine Ohuruogu, the 400 metres Olympic champion, has been left needing a discretionary selection to make it on to the plane to Daegu and the world championships next month after finishing outside of the top two automatic qualifying spots at the UK Trials in Birmingham.

The 27-year-old finished in third place with a time of 51.91sec, but is refusing to panic. "I'll just wing it. I went to Osaka [2007 world championships where she won the gold medal] running 53 seconds so ... nothing's a crisis," said Ohuruogu, who has struggled with injury problems since 2009. "I'll honestly go home and be happy with that. I would have liked to have won it, but it's a lack of training I think."

Instead it was Perri Shakes-Drayton who took the national title, beating a field of 400m specialists in a surprise victory for the hurdler. "I thought, 'I want to win this', my beastly personality came out and I got the gold medal," said the 21-year-old with a grin. But the East Ender will not compete over the one lap in Daegu, while the runner-up – Shana Cox – only qualifies for a British passport from November of this year and so all three British places are up for grabs as the selectors meet to decide who will travel to South Korea this summer.

The world champion heptathlete, Jessica Ennis, performed well in all three individual events, winning the high jump title, finishing second in the 100m hurdles and equalling her personal best in the shot put. "It's been a busy day and I'm quite tired, but it's been good," said the 25-year-old. "I've had some good performances and it's good to run against Tiffany [Ofili-Porter] so I'm pleased with today. Now I need to go home, rest, get some food and get prepared for tomorrow. I'm feeling good about Daegu, my training's been going well and I'm feeling fresh and on top of my game, I just need to sharpen up a bit more before I get there."

Despite being the shortest athlete in the field, Ennis won the high jump competition with a clearance of 1.89m, after throwing 14.25m in the shot put, to finish in seventh place overall, and running 12.96secs in the hurdles.

Fresh from breaking the British record last week, to make her fifth fastest in the world this season, Ofili-Porter looked in fine form, taking first place in the 100m hurdles in 12.76.

Dwain Chambers won his fifth national 100m title at the age of 33, running a season's best of 10.07secs after his partner had given birth to a baby daughter less than 48 hours previously. The Londoner, who finished sixth at the last world championships in 2009, will hope to go one better in South Korea his year. "The main thing is I have to keep myself healthy and that's going to be difficult because we had a baby girl two nights ago. My duties are going to be double, but hopefully I can repeat my sixth [place finish] from two years ago." Mark Lewis -Francis, the Commonwealth silver medallist, was disqualified after false-starting in the final.

Meanwhile, Charles van Commenee and the UK selectors will have more thinking to do in the men's 400m hurdles after 18-year-old Nathan Woodward won the British title to book his place at the world championships. With Richard Davenport taking second place – an athlete who has not yet run the A-qualifying standard – Van Commenee can select two further athletes to travel to Daegu. European and Commonwealth champion Dai Greene, who did not run in the final after suffering with a virus all week, is guaranteed a discretionary place.

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Don Goodman: My predictions for the 2011-12 Championship season

Chris Hughton has experience of getting out of the Championship, and could lead Birmingham back to the Premier League. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

Birmingham have lost key players such as Roger Johnson, Ben Foster and Barry Ferguson, but in Chris Hughton have a manager who knows how to get out of this division … Blackpool lost Charlie Adam, David Vaughan and, most likely, the goals of DJ Campbell – a massive setback, but Ian Holloway will still have his team playing the right way … Brighton have the talent to do as Norwich did last season: come up from League One and make a huge impact … Cardiff should have done better last season. Jay Bothroyd has gone but Malky Mackay still has a very good squad … Hull finished strongly last season and, with Nigel Pearson making some decent purchases, they should push on … Ipswich always look like a side capable of challenging for a top-six place and have a hugely experienced manager in Paul Jewell … Leeds were top scorers in the Championship last season but struggled badly defensively. If they fix that they should be challengers … Leicester have spent hugely – but Cardiff had the best players last season and look what happened to them … Middlesbrough recovered well under Tony Mowbray last season and should push on … Nottingham Forest brought in Steve McClaren, which should provide unity between boardroom and dugout … Portsmouth are dark horses, with stability off the pitch and a talented, experienced manager in Steve Cotterill … Southampton can use promotion from League One as a springboard for even more success … And West Ham have a manager in Sam Allardyce who will restore the team's passion and fighting spirit.

Bristol City finished 15th last season and it's hard to see them doing much better this time around … Burnley have a talented manager in Eddie Howe but have lost Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears … Crystal Palace were steadied by Dougie Freedman last season and can really push on this year … Derby County started brilliantly last season but their struggle with consistency means they cannot expect to finish too high up … Millwall's loss of Steve Morison is a huge blow to their chances – it's hard to see how Kenny Jackett will replace his goals ... Reading have already lost Matt Mills and are likely to lose Shane Long, too.

Barnsley's lack of resources means it's hard to see how Keith Hill will be able to improve on last season's 17th … Coventry have lost Marlon King who was crucial last season ... Doncaster simply do not have the wherewithal to compete strongly in this division. They finished one place above relegation last season and will do well to improve on that … Peterborough have lost Craig Mackail-Smith, robbing them of any momentum from winning the play-offs last season … Watford, like Peterborough, have lost their top scorer – but even with Danny Graham, manager Sean Dyche would have struggled this season.

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West Ham's promotion dream is safe is my hands, says Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce is confident of leading West Ham back into the Premier League. Photograph: David Levene

Sam Allardyce bows his head, closes his eyes and rubs his forehead for a good 10 seconds. The memory alone is headache-inducing. "I was a raging bull, an angry man, worrying, demanding," he says, as he reflects on his evolution as a football manager.

Arsene Wenger or Rafael Benitez might like to add to the description, but Allardyce is not talking about the halcyon days at Bolton Wanderers, when he would routinely upset the establishment, rather his formative years at Limerick, Blackpool and Notts County.

"My style now compared to back then, it was just a part of the process," he says. "I don't think you can do it any other way, because you are too inexperienced to do it any other way. But if you don't learn from your experiences, then you don't last in this game."

Allardyce has lasted. He once said that he would like to see through his 10-year contract at Bolton and retire at 56. "By the time that birthday comes along, I would think I would be looking at other things in my life." Allardyce will turn 57 in October. At the start of last month, he signed a two-year deal at West Ham United.

He is consumed and driven by the challenge in front of him – to restore the club's morale, which was battered during their relegation from the Premier League, and to lift them to an immediate return. It will not be easy, and not only because this season's Championship contains plenty of intriguing contenders.

West Ham have parted company with 12 senior players from last season's squad and the number could yet swell. Scott Parker is keen to remain in the Premier League and will be sold if his valuation is met. "Scott's position is delicate," Allardyce says, "because if someone hits the numbers that we would value him at and it's the Premier League, where he wants to be, he will be gone."

Allardyce has named Kevin Nolan, the ?4m signing from Newcastle United, as club captain, rather than Parker, although it ought to be noted that Parker was not the captain last season. Matthew Upson, who was released on the expiry of his contract, had the armband.

"The misconception that Scott was captain was born out of the rousing half-time speech that he gave at West Brom [in February]," Allardyce says of the midfielder's address that inspired the team from 3-0 down to 3-3. "I'd like to hear the transcript of that. I might use it myself.

"It would be wrong of me to plan [with Parker]. Kevin is here because he thinks his future lies here and he wants to get us back in the Premier League. Like me, he doesn't want to drop out of the Premier League for more than one season."

Allardyce admits he has hung himself "out to dry" by pledging to seek an instant return. He also accepts that the need to gain promotion is intensified by the club's financial position. West Ham carry debts of ?80m and David Sullivan, the co-owner, has said that life in the Championship will "blow a ?40m hole" in the business plan. Then there is the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2014 and the imperative to take Premier League football with them.

Allardyce, though, radiates optimism. Along with Nolan, he has added Matthew Taylor for ?2.2m from Bolton and the free transfers Joey O'Brien, also from Bolton, and Abdoulaye Faye from Stoke City. Further signings are afoot, with the priorities being a left-back and a striker. The England internationals Robert Green and Carlton Cole appear more likely to stay than go.

"We want to go up automatically," Allardyce says. "And if we don't quite achieve that goal, then we are going to be left in the play-offs, at the very least, unless I become the worst manager ever overnight and the players become the worst there has ever been."

Allardyce's style these days is characterised by a thick-skinned self-belief and searing ambition. Where once he would lie awake at night "frightened by what the fans or the papers or the owners would say", he now feels able to blot out the background noise, which is perhaps just as well at a noisy club like West Ham.

"I used to be a terrible, terrible worrier, a pessimist," he says. "It's probably because I was a defender. One mistake and the manager will shout at you. I couldn't remember playing well. I could only remember mistakes. I used to worry like mad. But as I got older and established myself, that diminished and as a manager, it's the same."

Insecurity has given way to conviction. Spectacularly so. Despite his sackings at Newcastle and, more recently, Blackburn Rovers when, in both cases, the ownership changed and his face no longer fitted, he can be fiercely proud of his cv. With man-management his greatest strength he maintains that he could win trophies at the very biggest clubs, such as Real Madrid and Internazionale, if he was given the opportunity.

"I've said a lot of things over the years that people laugh at and I find them very insulting for making a joke about it or laughing at how I could be a manager of any club, anywhere and deal with it. I still feel like I can walk into any club, anywhere, any time and deliver. It's a bit like a CEO, isn't it? You can take up a position in any industry and if you're a good CEO, you can make that company profitable. You put me in a football environment anywhere in the world and I can deliver the module. I can modify the module for the particular culture and the way of playing."

It remains easy to touch a nerve with Allardyce. Just tell him his teams have been long-ball bully boys or that he jars with the "West Ham way". "People had to make an excuse, at the time, for little old Bolton beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Man United," he says. "Little old Bolton used to beat Rafa Benitez [and Liverpool] every time he came to the Reebok Stadium. And they couldn't cope with it."

Allardyce's West Ham will look to entertain but, above all, to win. He made the point that Manchester United and Chelsea were not only the best creative teams but the most destructive ones, too. "There is an adaptability," he says. "They never play the same way. Arsenal probably do and that's probably why they've won nothing for six years."

The country's elite will have to wait. Allardyce must first ensure that the step down a division serves as a springboard. But he has it mapped out and the goal is to challenge for European places and cup finals. "How far can we go? That depends on how much the owners want to back the dream to turn it into reality," he says. "That's what I've done and that's what I do. I turn dreams into reality."

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Derbyshire 252; Middlesex 397-9 | Championship match report

Dawid Malan scored a career-best 143 to move Middlesex into the driving seat against Derbyshire at Lord's. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Five days ago, Lord's was bouncing to the egalitarian beat of People's Monday. On Saturday, it buzzed, albeit at a much lower pitch, to another unaccustomed innovation: Ladies' Day.

It was the fourth incarnation of this Middlesex venture linked to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, an alliance that has imbued the county's sober navy livery with a splash of pink and turned their one-day shirts into a Battenberg cake.

So rather than anoraks and scorebooks it was fascinators and flowery dresses. Champagne flowed – free for women, along with admission to the ground – in the Harris Garden, where there were as many quaffing as there were watching the cricket in the stands.

Regular Middlesex supporters, who would normally be in shorts and ill-fitting replica shirts, were suited, booted and with female accompaniment. Think the Major in Fawlty Towers: "I took her to see India." "India?" "At The Oval."

The Derbyshire 12th man Mark Footitt, walking round the boundary, was persuaded to exchange his county cap for a fascinator belonging to a young woman. This is probably not how those Middlesex grandees Gubby Allen and Pelham Warner would have defined progress.

Steven Finn, the Middlesex bowler who has spent much of the past few days driving to and from the Test at Nottingham, tweeted "it could get messy", in reference to the free champagne.

It seemed appropriate that the first two wickets were taken by a bowler with a girl's name. Jonathan Clare, a 6ft 4in all-rounder from Burnley, whose progress has been hindered by injury, broke Middlesex's century opening stand with the 10th ball of the day. He then dismissed Chris Rogers, whose innings of 11 was strangely fraught against the side he used to captain.

By mid-afternoon, Middlesex had crept into the lead, but, with five wickets down, they seemed to have missed an opportunity. The pitch, which was used for the one-day game between the sides on Thursday, was wearing fast and the prospect of a sizeable fourth-innings chase is not one that Middlesex – second in Division Two – would wish to contemplate.

But a career-best 143 from Dawid Malan converted Middlesex's slender lead into a meaningful advantage. By the time he was ninth out, slashing Clare to Wayne Madsen at gully four overs before stumps, Middlesex were 135 in front.

Malan, 23, Roehampton-born but raised in South Africa, was Middlesex's leading run-scorer in the championship in 2010, but had not passed 50 in the competition this season until Saturday. He was initially watchful, taking account of conditions that were trickier than most of his colleagues were prepared to acknowledge. But once in sight of his century, he let the cover drives and pulls flow. His only scare was a big lbw appeal on 99 against the lively Mark Turner, one of eight bowlers used by Derbyshire who flagged after tea on a hot afternoon.

Earlier, Sam Robson, the opener, made 94 for the third time this season. On the other occasions he was not out in successful run chases. He had looked untroubled and set for a century until he reached for a wide half-volley and was caught low in the gully. Robson, comes from Paddington, which sounds standard fare for a Middlesex batsman except this is Paddington, Sydney. Since re-establishing himself in the side in May, the 22-year-old has been a key component in Middlesex's promotion push.

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Europe's bodies beautiful face World Cup tempering in friendly fires | Eddie Butler

England's Jonny Wilkinson is among the European players in great shape before facing the perils of an intensive buildup to the World Cup. Photograph: Tom Hevezi/AP

At the risk of igniting a firestorm of career-threatening injuries, the rugby players of Europe have never been in better shape. While the southern hemisphere countries hurl themselves into the Tri-Nations – or in South Africa's case, limp up to Rustenburg for secret conditioning – the hard graft of our summer has finished. The heavy weights have been lowered and stories of recovery outweigh tales of woe.

For every Hugo Southwell who has to be declared out of World Cup contention, there is a Stephen Ferris back in the Irish reckoning, or a William Servat starting to rediscover his aim into the French lineout after surgery to his left knee. Every nation bristle with rude health. Gavin Henson has passed every test at -140C in Poland. Maxime Mermoz, perennially unavailable, is just one of so many French players running around and leaving his coach, Marc Lievremont, in the wonderful position of not really knowing what his best starting lineup is. Mauro Bergmasco, who last appeared for Italy in the Six Nations of 2010, is back. Goodness, even Jonny Wilkinson is fit.

It is only a fleeting moment in the World Cup cycle. Admiring a full stable of bodies beautiful is one thing; having them ready for the rigours of New Zealand in just over a month is another. And so it is that Europe's finest are about to enter the danger zone, the August of friendlies that will clarify a few selections for Lievremont and leave a few star names on the same list as Southwell. This is going to be a cruel month of ins and outs.

"Friendlies" is a strange word. Wales play England twice, home and away before full houses. It is not a fixture that bears friendliness easily. Common sense should prevail, but rugby was not invented with rational behaviour in mind. Danny Care, one of England's scrum-halves, said the games were going to be "huge and a real battle", which hardly introduces an element of caution.

Courtney Lawes going off on a stretcher in the England trial only underlined the perils ahead. The England manager, Martin Johnson, was quick to stress that his second row should be available for the huge and real battles ahead, but it was not clear whether Lawes could nod in agreement, what with his neck being in a brace.

The only way to alleviate the tensions of history is to shuffle the packs vigorously. I think we should be prepared for rolling substitutions that create a breeze strong enough to clear any red mists. Striking the balance between match readiness and soreness is going to be a delicate business and a greater test of the coaching craft than the World Cup itself.

Declan Kidney, armed with an extension to his contract, has opted for a full calendar of four friendlies: against Scotland, France twice, and England. This is presumably to avoid the sluggishness that afflicted Ireland at the 2007 World Cup. Any parallels with the last tournament are to be avoided, although it has not escaped anyone's notice that Eddie O'Sullivan was similarly given a new deal before the Irish flop of four years ago.

Still, Ireland remain the form team of Europe. If Lievremont is scratching his head over his bountiful options, imagine the agony of having to fit David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Ferris into three positions. It may require all four games for Kidney to make his choice. It will also be interesting to see if Felix Jones, the Munster full-back, is revealed in August. He is one to watch.

England have settled on three games, but threw in the trial for good measure. Dave Strettle, who limped off, may not be a fan of this throwback to the old days of the internal test to see who may face the outside world.

Wales, fresh from building a full-contact session at 5.15am into their Polish schedule, have also gone for three matches. Scotland are playing two. Perhaps they are mindful that summertime Murrayfield does not offer the same commercial rewards as stadiums elsewhere. The lack of international games in November is a factor in the scheduling of all these warmups, the treasurer never far from the planning process.

The temptation is to look beyond the trials of August to the reality of September, but the World Cup will be seriously tempered by what happens in the next few weeks. Might there be an inclination to be a little more expansive in August? Hard grounds and all that.

Stretching the lungs is obviously a priority, as important as giving nothing away as to each country's real intentions. To anticipate an extravagant style in the knockout stages of the real thing may be fanciful. Error-free durability will reign in October, but we may see a little more frivolity in our high summer.

With that approach comes the most extreme warning, however. It is one of the eternal truths of the game that anyone who tries to tread lightly through friendlies is bound to be undone as a team, injured as an individual. So, we should simply admire the players as they roll up their sleeves and set about their jobs a month earlier than usual and cross our fingers that the casualty rate does not make a mess of this snapshot of a sport in blooming condition.

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Alex Ferguson dismisses talk of Manchester United Wesley Sneijder deal

Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder was reported to have been in talks with Manchester United. Photograph: Pa Wire/PA

Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected claims that he is close to a deal to bring Wesley Sneijder to Manchester United.

Throughout United's pre-season tour of North America, Ferguson has consistently rejected any talk that Sneijder is set to leave Internazionale. On Saturday, the chief executive David Gill said there was "nothing imminent".

However, quotes attributed to Ferguson released overnight indicate talks have taken place and Sneijder has been presented with a take-it-or-leave-it offer. "If he wants to come, he must accept our contract offer. If not we have other options in mind. We are done talking," Ferguson is reported as saying by the Mail on Sunday.

But after Saturday's 2-1 win over Barcelona at FedEx Field, Ferguson denied the story. "Absolute nonsense," said the Scot. "I have never discussed him. There is nothing new."

Ferguson is clearly unhappy with the story and emphasised his desire to find a replacement for Paul Scholes from within his present squad by talking up the performance of the England Under-21 midfielder Tom Cleverley.

"It an area we have to find a solution for," he said. "That is why we played Tom Cleverley today. Physically he is not the strongest but he is wiry and has a great idea of the game. He is a good footballer and was our best player today.

"His discipline was terrific. He is a quick passer of the ball. He has good eyes. It was a big night for him. He is a big, strong possibility for us to start the season."

Nani gave United the first-half advantage in front of a record crowd approaching 82,000 but Thiago curled home a brilliant leveller for the European champions. However, Michael Owen had the last word for the Premier League champions to complete a 100% record from United's five games.

And there was further good news as Javier Hernandez was cleared to make the flight home despite suffering concussion during training in New Jersey on Tuesday.

"Javier is coming back with us," said Ferguson. "He is fine. He won't play for a couple of weeks but that would have been the case anyway. He was always going to need a break until he got his fitness back. He will do some training, then we will have him back in three to four weeks."

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Rolland wins but Schleck takes yellow

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For the second day in a row, the 2011 Tour de France produced shocks and shake-ups in the Alps. Pierre Rolland, released by a struggling Thomas Voeckler from his duties as a domestique midway through the day, gave France a long-awaited first stage win in this year's race, but for many, his principal contribution, as he threaded his way up the 21 steps of the devil's staircase, was to snatch victory from the grasp of Alberto Contador.

The Spaniard, who had cracked at the end of Thursday's long and gruelling stage, attacked like a man reborn throughout the day. So effective was his work that he started the ascent of the Alpe-d'Huez's notorious hairpins, on which he swatted away the attentions of outrageous exhibitionists, with a lead of half a minute, only to lose this game of two-wheeled vingt-et-un when he tired and was overhauled on the final ramps by Rolland and Samuel Sanchez.

The winner in 2007, 2009 and 2010, Contador is riding under the shadow of his positive test for clenbuterol, a banned substance, during last year's race. The result of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport into the Spanish cycling authorities' decision to clear him will not be known until next month. Were the positive finding to be upheld, he would be deprived not only of last year's win but of anything achieved during this year's race – and of his victory in the Giro d'Italia in May.

Had his attack been rewarded on Friday, comparisons would inevitably have been made with the notorious success of Floyd Landis in Morzine five years ago, which also came after a disaster in the Alps the previous day. The American went on to win the Tour, but a urine sample taken from him in Morzine was later found to contain an anomalous testosterone reading. The Tour does not need any more such 'miraculous' performances, and Contador's inability to press home his advantage seemed like the frailty of a normal human being.

He had spent most of the day with Andy Schleck riding on his wheel. The Luxembourg rider, the hero of Thursday's decisive lone break, eventually finished in a bunch of six riders that crossed the line 57 seconds behind the first three. The group also included his older brother, Frank Schleck, and Cadel Evans.

Voeckler, who started the stage in the yellow jersey for the 10th day in a row, matching his achievement of 2004, looked on the verge of collapse right from the start of the day's hostilities but fought with astonishing and very visible determination to finish 20th, 3min 22sec behind Rolland. But at last he conceded his lead in the general classification to Andy Schleck, who now lies 53 seconds ahead of his brother and 57 seconds ahead of Evans. Saturday's 42.5km time trial in Grenoble clearly plays to the strength of the Australian, and the outcome appears finely balanced. The battle for the overall victory is now between these three.

Mark Cavendish came in more than 25 minutes behind Rolland, and was relieved to discover that he will be carrying the green jersey into the penultimate day, which means that, barring accidents, he will be wearing it in Paris. For the second day in a row he finished outside the cut-off time, among a large group of riders troubled by the ascents of the first-category Col du Telegraphe and the two hors-categorie climbs, the 2,556m Col du Galibier and the 1,850m Alpe-d'Huez. They were each docked 20 points, but since they also included Jose Joaquin Rojas, lying second in the points classification, there was no change in the two riders' relative positions, and Cavendish is now the firm favourite to become the first British rider to win the maillot vert.

Two other jerseys changed hands. For Sanchez, second place allowed him to relieve Jelle Vanendert of the lead in the king of the mountains standings, which he will retain to the end since there are no more mountain points on offer. Rein Taaramae lost the white jersey for the best young rider to Rolland, who became only the second French rider – after Bernard Hinault, the victor in 1986 – to win a stage finishing on the Alpe, which first became a part of the Tour in 1952.

Rolland's work on Voeckler's behalf for the past week and a half constituted a wonderful example of the selflessness of the perfect domestique. On Friday, however, when Voeckler realised that he would be unable to match the leaders' pace, Rolland was the beneficiary. "We were on the Galibier," he said, "when Thomas told me, 'OK, you go, this is your chance'."

Two years ago, when he was aged 22 and enjoying good results, including 21st place in his first Tour, Rolland was being seen as the future star French cycling so badly needs. Then, as prodigies often do, he appeared to regress. Yesterday, he was given his opportunity, and seized it on the fabled Alpe-d'Huez. "I know the climb by heart," he said. "I rode it 10 times in six days during training. I kept my cool against the Spaniards and when I decided to attack, it was double or quits."

Almost a quarter of an hour later, four of his Europcar team-mates crossed the line together, arms in the air in celebration of their colleague's brilliant success, one of the highlights of a remarkable Tour.

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Sir Michael Stoute needs to win King George to improve his standing

Sir Michael Stoute has won the last two runnings of the King George, but is without a Group One success this season. Photograph: Rex Features

"It's difficult not to spot it," Sir Michael Stoute says when reminded that, by his normal standards, eighth place in the trainers' championship is at least five or six places too low. "Or to be told about it." He laughs, but for a little longer than necessary. Whatever else he thinks about his current position in the league table, Stoute clearly does not find it particularly funny.

It would be surprising if he did. Stoute will be 65 in October and has been training for nearly 40 years, with 10 championships at regular intervals between 1981 and 2009, but the instinct to compete that took him to the top of the sport is as sharp as it was when he took out a licence in 1972. He drew a blank at Royal Ascot, for the first time in 16 years, but nearly a third of his winners in 2011 have arrived this month, and it is time to start gathering in the Group Ones, too.

Workforce, the likely favourite for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, could restore Stoute's season to a more conventional pattern in the space of two and a half minutes. This is the 17th Group One of the season in Britain, and the 19th leg of the Qipco British Champion Series, and both sequences have yet to see a Stoute-trained winner. With a first prize of just over ?600,000, though, victory for last year's Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner would spring Stoute's yard into third place in the table, overtaking the latest knight in Newmarket, Sir Henry Cecil, in the process.

Stoute has won this race for the last two seasons, and five times in all going back to Shergar in 1981, who was his only three-year-old winner. Golan's victory on his seasonal debut in 2002 was one of the finest training performances of his career, and victory for Workforce would demonstrate once again that Stoute has few peers when it comes to coaxing enthusiasm and improvement from four- and five?year?olds.

"I think that the more they mature, the better you get to know them, so as a consequence they are easier to train," Stoute says. "Horses like Opera House, Saddlers' Hall, Pilsudski and Singspiel were all good horses from a young age who continued to progress. They were tough, honest competitors and had a lot of ability.

"We're lucky in that we get some very nice, quality horses, but there are not too many that even get to a Classic trial, never mind a Classic. Some of them are just not going to be mature enough to go that route, and often, when they start full work in the springtime, you've got to make a judgment call and determine whether that's where you should be aiming.

"Workforce was a better three-year-old than those, but he's not got too many miles on the clock. He's a big horse, 16 2, very clean-limbed and sound. He's a heavy horse too, so he doesn't want the ground too quick as a result. We wouldn't risk him on fast ground, and I'm hoping that it's not going to dry out too much at Ascot."

Even with his reputation as a trainer of older horses, Stoute must have been a little surprised when Prince Khalid Abdullah decided to keep Workforce in training this season. The prize money that Workforce might win is an irrelevance, but the prince, who is as interested in breeding as he is in racing, has foregone 100 or more Workforce foals next spring. To make the decision worthwhile, Workforce needs to enhance his reputation still further, and victory in a race in which he was only fifth – to his stablemate Harbinger – last year would certainly do that.

"There's accountability in any business, so it's great to have him at four," Stoute says of the calculations to be made in deciding when to send a horse to stud. "But they're horses, and so things aren't always straightforward and the slightest blip can mean that they miss what was going to be their main target.

"You've just got to take it race by race, and we'll see how he comes out of it on Saturday before making any more plans, though we want to have another stab at the Arc. It will all unravel as the season goes on, Saturday is the big day."

Ryan Moore rode St Nicholas Abbey, one of Workforce's main rivals, when he won the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month, but Stoute has first call on his services and Moore's experience could prove vital in a small field.

"It hasn't been a big field for the King George for the last few years, but it's a good-quality race and Ryan's very good on the big days," Stoute says. "He's very good on the little days as well, but he's very cool in these races and a lot of the decisions [about how to ride the race] are left to him."

Moore has seemed less than committed to a serious run at the jockeys' title, but he remains a serious contender and his boss could be on the trail of an 11th championship if Workforce wins on Saturday, with only Aidan O'Brien and Richard Hannon then in front of him. "You don't always have the same quality of horses every year and that's where we are," Stoute says, "but there's still a little way to go and we're going to see what we can do."

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Warwickshire on course for win over Sussex to put them in title hunt

Murray Goodwin provided the best resistance for Sussex with 94, but his side face an uphill task to salvage anything from the match. Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

For more than an hour Warwickshire supporters not actually at Edgbaston fulminated as their side did not enforce the follow-on after bowling Sussex out for 259, 262 behind their own score.

Those following on the internet were erroneously told that Warwickshire, most conservatively, had decided to bat again. In this parallel universe William Porterfield was making hay at the crease, not another Irishman, Ed Joyce, which was actually the case. And, it seemed, Michael Yardy was having his first bowl of the season.

Fans tweeted their displeasure. Others made incredulous phone calls. And then, slowly, the truth of the match seeped through. Warwickshire did make the correct decision and Sussex, in their second innings, were 71 for two, still 191 behind, when the players came off for bad light with 13 overs to bowl.

Warwickshire should win from here and if they do it will be their fifth victory in six matches. The championship, it seems, is within their grasp and they have a more than decent run-in against some of the weaker sides.

Certainly their supporters will have followed Durham's woes at Taunton with more than usual interest, while the remarkable Roses match at Headingley will not have gone unnoticed either. Lancashire are Warwickshire's next opponents – they play at Liverpool on 1 August – and it will be an important game.

Sussex resumed on Friday morning on 103 for 3, in need of a good telescope to view their target of 372 to avoid the follow-on. In the third over James Anyon, the nightwatchman, was caught by Laurie Evans, diving at cover. Three overs later Yardy fluffed his attempted pull and was caught and bowled by Rikki Clarke for two.

Warwickshire broke through again at 143, when Jeetan Patel, who had set a most attacking field, knocked back Andrew Hodd's off-stump with the batsman playing no stroke.

Yardy's reintroduction to the game while fighting his problems with depression is not proving easy. This is his fourth championship match of the season and in four knocks he has scored 41, with a best of 22. And he has not bowled.

The best resistance came from Murray Goodwin (94) and William Adkin, who batted for more than two hours for his unbeaten 29. But then Sussex lost their last three wickets for 22 runs in nine overs and, when they batted again, Chris Nash and Luke Wells fell cheaply.

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McLaren will bounce back at German GP

Jenson Button drives his McLaren during the second practice sesssion ahead of the German Grand Prix. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Jenson Button is optimistic that McLaren will be back fighting with Red Bull and Ferrari at the German Grand Prix after he and team-mate Lewis Hamilton both suffered at Silverstone last time out.

Button had to retire at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago after exiting the pits with a loose front wheel, while Hamilton was forced to slow down in the closing stages to save fuel.

The team came to Germany looking for positives and, even if Friday's practice session did not give any indication of a recovery, Button is confident there will be no lasting damage done by the Silverstone result. "You get over it quick because the next one is just around the corner," Button said. "It was my home grand prix so it was obviously disappointing that we didn't get a good result.

"After the last race you move on and you come with a stronger car, which I think we will have here. You also come with a good atmosphere within the team and a positive attitude. None of the guys here are thinking about Silverstone now."

The debate over the exhaust-blown diffuser that dominated the previous race has also been closed and Hamilton hoped this would benefit the team in Germany: "I feel optimistic about this weekend, I think the regulations definitely affected us more than others," he said.

"The regulations have changed back to where we had been on engine modes so I think we should be on par with the others now on that side of things. Whether or not the car is quick as theirs, we'll wait and see."

Button, too, thought the rule-tweaking had been at least partly to Ferrari's advantage in the previous race. "It obviously hurt us and it hurt Red Bull but I don't think it hurt Ferrari so they stood out as being very competitive."

With everyone on the same page of the rulebook, however, McLaren struggled where Ferrari still produced an impressive performance in practice. Fernando Alonso recorded a time of 1min 31.894sec in the first session which was the fastest of the morning, with his team-mate Felipe Massa fourth-fastest, sandwiching the Red Bulls of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton and Button were fifth and sixth respectively.

In the second practice session, Mark Webber, who won here two years ago, had the advantage, and topped the timing screens with a lap of 1:31.711. But Ferrari were again strong, with Alonso and Massa quickest for some time before Webber went fastest just after the hour. It left a Red Bull and Ferrari top four again but this time the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg rounded out the top six. Hamilton was seventh and Button 11th, losing the final 20 minutes with an exhaust problem.

Alonso was keen to dispel any notion that the British race had been a one?off, saying: "First impressions from the car are good. I've said it before it's not a case of a miracle having happened at Silverstone."

Button was unsure how his performance would unfold. "It's been a slightly frustrating day for me. I couldn't get a good balance on the car this morning," he said. "I think it will be difficult for us to beat the Red Bulls in qualifying."

Hamilton, too, was equivocal: "We've got some updates on the car and they seem to be working, which is also positive. But it's only Friday."

If both drivers' general optimism is to be justified they will expect a little better on Saturday, though it may be compromised. A 75% chance of rain is predicted for the weekend and, despite heavy falls all week, Friday's practice was entirely dry, so no team has yet had any running in the cold and wet.

If this comes it may hamper Ferrari. Alonso said: "In theory, the cold is not a friend to us: in these conditions the Red Bull has even more of an edge."

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Chelsea agree fee for Barcelona's Under-20 international Oriol Romeu

The Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has announced the club have agreed a deal for the Barcelona midfielder Oriel Romeu. Photograph: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters

Chelsea have agreed terms with Barcelona for the transfer of Oriol Romeu, in a deal thought to be around ?4.5m, and will now seek to finalise a contract with the Spaniard.

The 19-year-old defensive midfielder, who played regularly for the Barcelona B team and who is currently at the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia with Spain, has yet to undergo a medical at Chelsea but is being lined up as cover for the injured Michael Essien.

The Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said: "It is a part of the squad in which we are struggling with numbers because of Michael Essien's injury and Oriol is a player with a bright future. He still has to evolve as a player.

"The Barcelona B team had a magnificent year in the Spanish second division - they finished third. Oriol had an injury during the season but he came back late on and was in time to play for the first team. So he is one of the most promising young players in that position and hopefully we can agree personal terms and hopefully he will pass a medical."

Chelsea are also attempting to sign the Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, the 18-year-old who the club believe can develop into a player similar to the striker Didier Drogba. However, if they are successful in their bid, the forward may be loaned out to gain first-team experience.

Villas-Boas also revealed the decision to loan Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Atletico Madrid once he completes his move from Racing Genk had not been finalised.

"The Spanish League is an extremely competitive league and Atletico is a great club to be at but it is not decided yet on his future," he said. "It is still a couple of days until we can confirm agreement between all three parties."

Villas-Boas' is likely to spend again before the transfer window closes, with the blessing of chief executive Ron Gourlay, who said: "From our activity in the marketplace in the past, if the coach feels there is a player available that can strengthen our team then we almost definitely go into the market place."

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Mo Farah's record-breaking run overshadowed by fight on the track

Mo Farah set a British record in Monaco but his achievement was overshadowed by a fight between Mehdi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad. Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images

Mo Farah and Tiffany Ofili-Porter set British records at a dramatic Diamond League meeting in Monaco. Phillips Idowu and Usain Bolt also took gold but an evening that almost ended with a world record in the 3,000m steeplechase was overshadowed by a fight between two French athletes.

Farah recorded his eighth successive victory when he outsprinted the American former world champion Bernard Lagat to win the 5,000m in a time of 12min 53.11sec – five seconds quicker than his previous best.

Ofili-Porter also set a new national record of 12.60sec in the 100m hurdles as she finished third behind the Australian Sally Pearson.

Mehdi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad finished down the field in the 1500m but all eyes were on them after the finish when they started to trade blows. Baala, who was ninth behind the winner Silas Kiplagat of Kenya, said he went to console Mekhissi-Benabbad, the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist, after he came in 11th. But after an exchange of words Baala head-butted Mekhissi-Benabbad who responded by swinging a series of punches, all of which missed their target.

The pair were separated on the track but the row did not stop there as they exchanged strong words in the media zone after Mekhissi-Benabbad appeared to slap Baala. "I'm going to break you in two," an angry Baala responded.

Around 20 minutes later, Baala expressed his regret at the incident. "At such an event, in front of a full stadium, it's a shame to give a bad image of athletics," he said.

The Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt clocked a season's best of 9.88sec in the 100m to pip fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter to the line. In the triple jump, Idowu leapt 17.36m to finish 6cm ahead of Cuban Alexis Copello, who was 1cm in front of compatriot David Girat.

Dai Greene took bronze for Britain in the 400m hurdles, with a time of 48.43sec to finish behind the American pair of Angelo Taylor and Bershawn Jackson.

However, Lisa Dobriskey could manage only eighth place in the women's 1500m. The night ended on a high note as Kenya's Brimin Kipruto finished the 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 7min 53.64sec, just 0.01 outside Saif Saeed Shaheen's world record.

The British sprinter Bernice Wilson has been suspended from all competition after she failed a drugs test. The suspension, issued by UK Anti-Doping and which came into effect on 9 July, follows a sample that was collected from the athlete in competition at the Bedford International Games on 12 June. The sample was found to contain the anabolic steroids testosterone and clenbuterol.

The 27-year-old Wilson is from Boston in Lincolnshire and competes for the Birmingham-based Birchfield Harriers club. She reached the 60m semi-finals at the European Indoor Championships this year and equalled her personal best of 7.26sec to reach the qualifying mark for the championships in Paris.

She also won the Commonwealth Games 100m trials last summer only to miss out on a place in the England squad because she did not meet the qualifying time. She now has the opportunity to respond to the charge against her, including the right to a full hearing of the case.

The world junior champion Jodie Williams ran a championship record time to secure gold in the 100m for Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in Tallinn. The 17-year-old sprinter's time of 11.18sec was also a personal best and the 2012 hopeful felt she won in a difficult field.

"These girls are so talented and they've been running good times this season so it wasn't even a given that I'd medal, but I performed on the day and I'm over the moon. I had hoped today would be the day for a PB so I'm really happy," Williams said. "I've been training better than last year and my times in training have been better than last year so I knew I had 11.1 in me, I've just not had the right conditions until today."

Her compatriot Marilyn Nwawulor also reached the final and finished eighth with a time of 11.73. Adam Gemili had to settle for silver in the men's 100m final but the 17-year-old, who also plays for the League One football side Dagenham, was looking forward to the relay final. He said: "I'm really happy to continue with both football and athletics and I'm really, really happy with that race today."

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Rangers agree fee with Aston Villa for striker Carlos Cuéllar

The fine details have still to be ironed out, but Carlos Cuellar is heading back to Rangers from Aston Villa. Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

Ally McCoist has confirmed that he has agreed a fee with Aston Villa for the former Ibrox defender Carlos Cuellar and reiterated his interest in the Bursaspor striker Kenny Miller, another ex-Rangers player.

McCoist, who oversaw his first win as Rangers manager since taking over from Walter Smith with a 4-1 friendly win over Linfield in Belfast, told Sky Sports News: "There is still a little bit of work to be done there. A fee has been agreed and in an ideal world we'll get the deal done and get Carlos up here to join us. He was a wonderful player for us, very well thought of." Villa signed Cuellar for ?7.8m in August 2008.

On the issue of Miller, who left Rangers for Turkey in January, McCoist said: "That's a possibility. We haven't been in touch with Bursaspor, but I wouldn't rule out anything at this stage. We are certainly looking to bring in three or four players into the squad before facing Hearts next Saturday."

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Voeckler leads after Pyrenean deadlock

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Until Saturday, a stage win on the Plateau de Beille was synonymous with overall victory in the Tour de France. Marco Pantani in 1998, Lance Armstrong in 2002 and 2004 and Alberto Contador in 2007 all moved smoothly from success at the 1,780m Pyrenean summit to the yellow jersey in Paris. That sequence, however, is unlikely to survive the victory by Jelle Vanendert, a 26-year-old Belgian rider.

While the bigger names were nullifying each other's efforts, Vanendert rode away to win a stage of his first Tour, but since the Belgian lies just over 12 minutes behind the leader of the general classification, he is extremely unlikely to become the first man to win the Tour on his debut since Laurent Fignon in 1983.

Vanendert, who rides for the Omega Pharma-Lotto team, is not well known outside Belgium. He spent the spring helping his team-mate Philippe Gilbert to win a remarkable sequence of one-day classics, and a place on the Tour was his reward. He is also the cousin of Roy Sentjens, who raced in the colours of Rabobank, Lotto and Milram and retired last year after testing positive for  EPO.

The real hero of the stage, which began in Saint-Gaudens, was Thomas Voeckler, who likes the yellow jersey so much that he simply refuses let it go. While the favourites for overall victory once again feinted and parried, Voeckler more than matched them for aggression and verve. On a day when he was expected to hand it over to one of the men with better credentials, he made himself look like a proper leader.

"I wanted to hold on to the jersey," he said. "But I didn't think I'd manage to keep it by more than a few seconds." Instead he maintained his lead of 1min 49sec over Frank Schleck, the elder of the two Luxembourg brothers whose efforts to damage their rivals for the general classification were again inconclusive.

"I was suffering today," Voeckler said after finishing seventh on a 168km stage that included the first category Col de la Core and Col d'Agnes as well as the concluding hors-categorie climb. "But I believe it was the same for everybody."

Voeckler came in as part of the group that was eventually whittled down to half a dozen behind Vanendert and Samuel Sanchez of Spain. While he launched no attacks of his own, he was the one who took much of the responsibility for surging up to the wheels of those who were trying to splinter the group.

By the time the riders reached the foot of the third climb of the day, the Col de Latrape, a lead of more than nine minutes had been established by a group of three Frenchmen – Julien El Fares of Cofidis, Sandy Casar of Francais des Jeux and Christophe Riblon of AG2R-La Mondiale – and one adopted son of the Hexagon, David Millar, who said the other day that he was as proud to be known as a Biarrot, thanks to his long-time residence in Biarritz, as a Scot.

The group contracted, expanded, and then dissolved, Jens Voigt falling twice in quick succession soon after the summit of the Port de Lers. Gorka Izagirre of Euskaltel-Euskadi was alone as he rode into Tarascon-sur-Ariege, the last town before the ascent to the Plateau de Beille, by the start of the climb itself his team-mate Ruben Perez Moreno was on the front. And then, as so often in this Tour, came a glorious but ultimately vain effort from a Frenchman, this time Casar of Francais des Jeux, who pulled out a margin of half a minute but was destined to suffer the same fate that befell Jeremy Roy 24 hours earlier, all his courage ultimately expended to no reward.

In the group where the real business was being done, Andy Schleck was the first to attack. His initiative did not shake off his rivals but it was enough to account for Alberto Contador's two Saxo Bank comrades, Jesus Hernandez and Daniel Navarro, although the defending champion himself seemed more comfortable than he had in the preceding days. The younger Schleck attacked again, and then once more, but each time his efforts were nullified by Ivan Basso, Cadel Evans or Voeckler, with Contador in their wake.

Basso spent some time setting a relatively relaxed tempo at the front of the group, and Frank Schleck had just pushed gently ahead when Vanendert attacked with just under 7km to go and was allowed to ride away and overtake the rapidly fading Casar. Basso then attacked twice, without profit, before Sanchez followed Vanendert's example and managed to escape.

Still the leaders were watching each other – prepared to wound but afraid to strike, as the saying goes. Basso went once more, then Evans. Finally Andy Schleck eased off the front of the group as the climb eased in the final couple of kilometres, just as his brother had done at Luz-Ardiden, to secure third place and cut his deficit to the leader by a couple of seconds.

In front of him, Vanendert and Sanchez were reversing the finishing order of Thursday's stage, which ended with the climb up to Luz-Ardiden. Behind came Evans and then Rigoberto Uran, Team Sky's young Colombian, who finished strongly and took the best young rider's white jersey from the French rider Arnold Jeannesson, becoming the second member of his team to wear it in this Tour. "I want to keep it all the way to Paris," he said afterwards.

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