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Friday Kickoff: Egypt to host World Cup qualifier, Chelsea submit bid for stadium site and more

Bob Bradley 2 (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

Egypt will be hosting a World Cup qualifier at home afterall.

Still dealing with political unrest and violence in the country, Egypt has been granted permission by security officials to host their World Cup qualifier against Mozambique next month. The match will be played at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria on June 1, but security officials have not yet decided whether supporters will be able to attend.

Egypt has not played al match at home since October, and all club soccer in the country was suspended after 74 people died following a riot at a club game in February.

American coach Bob Bradley currently has the Egyptian team on an eight-game unbeaten streak.

Here are more stories to help get your day going:

CHELSEA SUBMIT BID, PLANNING 60,000-SEAT STADIUM

The talks of Chelsea playing in a more modern stadium are not new, but the club is a step closer to doing so after submitting a bid for land where it is planning to construct a 60,000-seat stadium. Chelsea announced Friday it has made a bid on Battersea Power Station, a 39-acre site that went on the market in February. Chelsea are hopeful the land can be used to build "one of the most iconic stadiums in the world", but admit there are still a lot of obstacles to overcome should their bid get accepted. Chelsea currently play at Stamford Bridge, which holds just north of 41,000 fans.

SPAIN TO WAIT-AND-SEE WITH VILLA

The unlikelihood that David Villa returns to the field for Barcelona this season is not stopping Spain national team head coach Vicente Del Bosque from considering calling him up. Del Bosque said he will wait until the last minute before choosing whether or not to take Villa to Euro 2012 this summer. Villa fractured his left tibia while with Barcelona during the Club World Cup last December and has yet to return to the action for the Spanish club.

LEE NEARS RETURN

Lee Chung-Yong is one step closer to returning the field for Bolton, and the winger could possibly make it back in time to play in the final game of the season. Lee is set to play in a behind-closed-doors match for the Bolton reserves on Friday in the latest bit of progress for the South Korean after breaking his leg last summer. Manager Owen Coyle remains reluctant to say whether Lee could return, but he has not completely ruled it out. Bolton, who are fighting relegation, host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday before closing out the campaign versus Stoke City on May 13.

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What do you think of Egypt hosting a World Cup qualifier? Should Chelsea just stay at Stamford Bridge? Hoping Villa gets called into Spain's side for Euro 2012?

Share your thoughts below. 

Comments

  1. Ya think they hired him as coach because of the resemblance to Yul Brenner?

    So let it be written. So let it be done.

    Reply

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