English papers go wild at Green blunder! American papers print three-line summary under small photo! All this, plus gossip!

The football makes the front page of the New York Times (but only little, and right down in the bottom corner), with a two-line story headlined “goalkeeper fumbles ball, giving US a tie”. “The resilient Americans played sturdy defense with a suddenly cohesive back line that left Wayne Rooney frustrated and inconsequential,” they laugh.

It’s also on the front page of the LA Times. Another three lines, headlined: “A World Cup Draw”. Simple, and to the point. The big theme in the American press was the comparison between their own Tim Howard, who needed a cortisone injection at half-time to overcome Emile Heskey’s physical challenge yet emerged with the man of the match award, and our own Robert Green, who came up with, in the words of the Wall Street Journal, “a muff that is likely to make him the most hated man in England”.

Here, in brief, is how the English tabloids saw the game:

Stars and Tripe! (News of the World)
“An astonishing blunder … Captain Marvel Steven Gerrard … Green’s howler … the ball slipped from his grasp and rolled agonisingly over the line … back home the nation embraced World Cup fever … Boxing champ David Haye added: ‘It’s an okay start.’”

Tainted Glove! (Sunday Mirror)
“Calamity keeper … one of the all-time blunder goals … hapless Green … the softest of soft strikes … the nation gasped in collective horror … a string of celebrities posted on Twitter … Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden said: ‘OMG Noooooooo!‘ … Kerry Katona wore an England shirt yesterday.”

Blunder pressure! (The People)
“England’s goalkeeper curse struck again … a howler from the West Ham man … tame long-range effort … hapless … a moment of agony for the keeper.”

Calamity! (Mail on Sunday)
“A terrible bunder … a calamitous start … howler cost England two precious points … perfect start … plans unravelled … astonishing blunder … the softest of equalisers … millions of deflated fans … Capello picked the wrong man.”

Away from the England game, the Sunday Mirror hired Kerry Dixon to test the World Cup ball – and were amazed to discover that the former Chelsea striker’s shots on goal were not always on target. “I cannot understand why they have plumped for that ball,” said Dixon. “It’s not up to it. It has taken a lot of the skill element out of the game.”

Transfer gossip, then, and Roy Hodgson will move to Anfield this week, reports the Sunday Express. The Mail says Arsenal are targeting Phil Jagielka. Chelsea are beating Manchester City in the race for David Silva, but City want his Valencia team-mate Juan Manuel Mata as well. Harry Redknapp has turned down a £3m-a-year tax-free deal to manage Al Ahli in Dubai. Birmingham will sign 30-year-old Italian marksman Fabrizio Miccoli for £5m. The Mirror also predict a £40m Manchester City bid for Daniel Alves and Roma’s Philippe Mexès, and say West Ham are keen on 36-year-old former Arsenal ace Robert Pires, who wants a way back to the Premier League. Once he realises who they’ve got in goal, however, he might be less keen.

World Cup 2010Transfer windowManchester CityWest Ham UnitedHarry RedknappSimon Burntonguardian.co.uk

• Italian stunned by Sullivan’s open letter criticism
• Run of five defeats has piled pressure on West Ham

Gianfranco Zola has responded to this week’s criticism from David Sullivan by refusing to dismiss the idea that Sullivan and his fellow West Ham owner, David Gold, were trying to force him out in continuing to publicly undermine him. “What the hell is going on? Jesus Christ,” he said in frustration.

Sullivan’s latest comments, in which he called Zola’s team “shambolic”, came in an open letter published on the club’s website after Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat by Wolves. Zola, visibly exasperated by Sullivan’s intervention, insisted at first he would not retaliate. “I’m not going to answer back because it doesn’t deserve it,” the Italian said. “I will keep my focus on my job, I have a responsibility and will turn it into a positive thing for me and my players. I will keep my head down and focus on the job.”

But when pressed Zola admitted: “I tell you what I’ve been thinking about all [of] this situation and I said: ‘What the hell is going on here? Jesus Christ.’ And then I question: ‘Am I doing everything I can?’ I say: ‘Yes. I’m doing it with passion, I’m doing it with honesty.’ So why should I be kicking myself or banging my head against the wall? That’s what I say.

“Sometimes things don’t work. Maybe the job I am doing is not good. But I do it with honesty. If it is not good they just tell me. I have no problem with that.”

The Wolves defeat was West Ham’s fifth successive league reverse and leaves the club three points above the relegation zone ahead of the difficult visit of Stoke City.

If West Ham are again defeated and one of Hull City or Burnley – who are directly below the Upton Park club – were to win this weekend then Zola’s position could come under consideration by Sullivan and Gold, despite assurances this week that he would not be sacked.

Asked if Zola thinks Gold’s and Sullivan’s continual public utterances might be their way of driving him out, he said: “That is a good question. I don’t know. Obviously I understand the chairman Mr Sullivan is very much concerned about the situation. We are not in a very good position and he is concerned. I am concerned as much as him. I have faith in the players I am working with.”

Zola admitted he had no prior knowledge that Sullivan’s letter was to be published. The manager said that while he had spoken with Gold at the training ground he had not had any discussions with Sullivan.

“I don’t think I’m going to speak to him,” he said. Asked why, he said: “I don’t even think about it. The game tomorrow is more important than anything else.”

Zola insisted Sullivan’s words were not a distraction. He said: “No. I will tell you tomorrow after the game. We are very professional and I will focus on the game. The good thing about football, the thing

• West Ham escape having to play behind closed doors
• Club cleared of allegations of racist abuse and missile throwing

West Ham have been fined £115,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of two charges relating to crowd disturbances during their Carling Cup victory over Millwall.

The Premier League club have also been ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5,000 – but they escaped being forced to play matches behind closed doors.

The violent clashes on 25 August led to 64 arrests and the stabbing of a Millwall fan outside Upton Park, and there were pitch invasions during the match.

West Ham were found guilty of two charges: failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour, and failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play.

The club were cleared of the more serious allegations of racist abuse and missile throwing during last week’s three-day hearing.

The FA confirmed the penalty after reconvening this morning to hear and consider West Ham’s plea of mitigation.

The club have 14 days to appeal the decision upon receipt of the commission’s full written judgement.

The FA said: “An Independent Regulatory Commission has today fined West Ham United FC having found them in breach of FA rules earlier this week.

“The club has been fined the sum of £115,000 and ordered to pay adjusted costs of £5,000 for the failure to ensure their supporters refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and the failure to ensure their supporters did not enter the field of play. The club will have 14 days to appeal this finding upon receipt of the commission’s full written reasons.”

West Ham expect to receive the written judgment next week and will not make any public comment until a decision over an appeal has been made.

Carling CupWest Ham UnitedMillwallFootball violenceguardian.co.uk