England Premier League Media

Chelsea’s teenager defender Jeffrey Bruma has agreed a new contract, which will keep at the club until 2014.

The 18-year-old, who made his full Netherlands debut in the summer, is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge, having been with the Blues since 2007.

Bruma, who has been limited to four substitute appearances so far, is recovering from hernia surgery.

“I am very happy to stay here,” he said. “The recovery is going well and I have no pain where I had it before.”

Before the young defender was sidelined by injury he made a substitute appearance in the Community Shield defeat against Manchester United at Wembley.

“I have been working to improve all the time I have been here and a next step is getting your next contract, and now it is time to improve again,” Bruma said.

“I have made my international debut already and that was the aim for two or three years’ time.

“It has come so early, and when you reach your targets you obviously have to set new ones, so my new targets are to play as much as I can at Chelsea in the first team and get in the Dutch full squad again as soon as I am fit.”

Chelsea’s Portuguese full-back Paulo Ferreira has announced his retirement from international football.

The 31-year-old told the Portuguese Football Federation it was a move he had taken “after deep reflection” and was motivated by “personal reasons”.

Right-back Ferreira won the first of his 62 caps for his country against England in September 2002.

His decision to quit international duty follows that of Atletico Madrid winger Simao last week.

Ferreira arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004 when he was reunited with his former coach at Porto, Jose Mourinho, who paid a then-British record fee for a full-back of 13.2m.

The following season Ferreira was a key part of Chelsea’s first title-winning campaign in 50 years, despite missing a vital part of the season after breaking his foot in March 2005.

Didier Drogba will miss Ivory Coast’s opening qualifier for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chelsea striker has been left out of the Elephant’s line-up by their new coach Francois Zahoui.

Drogba missed a recent friendly international through injury, but has since returned to action with Chelsea.

Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure and Salomon Kalou are all in the party preparing for the Group H game against Rwanda in Abidjan.

Monaco’s Yannick Sagbo takes Drogba’s place in the squad after winning his first cap in the friendly match against Italy, which was played in London.

Sagbo is one of only three squad members who did not go to the World Cup, as Zahoui stuck with most of the players who had served his predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But the midfield pair of Kafoumba Coulibaly and Emerse Fae, from French club Nice, have both returned to the line-up after being overlooked for the finals in South Africa.

Ivory Coast squad:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan)

Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian, Scotland), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic, England), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes, France), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, England), Didier Zokora (Sevilla, Spain)

Midfielders: Kafoumba Coulibaly, Emerse Fae (both Nice, France), Emmanuel Kone (Cluj, Romania), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla, Spain), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Newcastle United, England), Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England)

Strikers: Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille, France), Yannick Sagbo (Monaco, France).

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti hailed a professional display from his players after the champions kept up their 100% record with a 2-0 victory over Stoke.

Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba were on target as the Blues followed up two resounding league wins with a less spectacular result against the Potters.

“We didn’t play our best football but we were focused and concentrated – it’s important to win,” said the Italian.

“It’s impossible to win 6-0 every week, today we played very well defensively.”

Chelsea began the season with 6-0 wins over West Brom and Wigan and, while they didn’t hit the same heights at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, they looked comfortable and are yet to concede a goal in the Premier League.

“I was happy because we won but we didn’t have a good, high tempo. The tempo was not continuous but we didn’t concede,” said Ancelotti.

By contrast with Chelsea’s winning start to the season, Stoke have lost all three of their games so far but manager Tony Pulis was pleased with his team’s work-rate.

“I think we gave Chelsea a game today. We did our best to frustrate them but we’re not getting that bit of luck in front of goal,” said the Potters boss.

“We had our moments but overall Chelsea were the better team. They had numerous opportunities but I give credit to our lads for the work they put in.”

Pulis revealed he hopes to make some new signings before the close of the transfer window at 1800 BST on Tuesday.

“I hope the window stays open long enough for me to bring three or four players in. We’re hoping to do some business,” he said.

Pulis also reiterated his desire to keep goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who has been linked with Chelsea, at the Britannia Stadium.

“Asmir is a decent kid and the problem has been other people getting into him behind the scenes. But I’m sure (chairman) Peter Coates will do his damnedest to make sure Asmir stays at Stoke City.”

Nicolas Anelka says he is “laughing” after being banned for 18 games by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his conduct at this summer’s World Cup.

The 31-year-old Chelsea striker was sent home from South Africa after a row with coach Raymond Domenech.

“This whole thing is a nonsense, to turn the page because [new coach] Laurent Blanc needs to be able to work in peace,” Anelka told France Soir.

“These people are clowns. I’m dying with laughter,” he added.

Anelka said the suspension “has no relevance whatsoever” because as far as he is concerned, his international career finished when he was thrown out of training on 19 June.

“The whole commission thing is a charade not to lose face,” he added.

Anelka’s team-mates refused to train after the row, which led to the team finishing bottom of their group with just one goal and one point in three matches.

The president of the French Federation resigned over what he called the “fiasco” and a government inquiry was launched into the whole affair.

New coach Blanc suspended all 23 members of the World Cup squad for his first game in charge, against Norway earlier this month, and three of those players have been handed further bans for their part in events in South Africa.

Manchester United’s Patrice Evra was captain of the team and has been banned for five matches for his involvement in the revolt.

Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery has been suspended for three and Jeremy Toulalan of Lyon for one.

Barcelona’s Eric Abidal was also summoned to Tuesday’s FFF disciplinary hearing but escaped punishment.

The quintet were highlighted as the key players in the embarrassing controversy which surrounded the French team at the World Cup following Anelka’s outburst at Domenech during the

loss to Mexico

which saw him banished.

Evra and Ribery were summoned for not performing their duties properly as captain and vice-captain, while Toulalan was seen as the perpetrator behind a statement read out by Domenech explaining why the players had refused to train.

Abidal’s offence was his refusal to play in the final group match against

South Africa, which France lost 2-1.

France were also beaten 2-0 by Mexico following a

goalless draw in their opening fixture against Uruguay

as they produced a string of poor performances which saw them exit the competition following the group stages.

Anelka did not show up at the disciplinary hearing and his international career now appears to be all but over.

Ribery was also an absentee but his club Bayern Munich did not allow him to attend with the Bundesliga starting its season this weekend and the German champions facing Wolfsburg in their opening game on Friday.

The pair sent representatives, while Evra, Toulalan and Abidal were present for the lengthy hearing, along with Domenech.

Former deputy managing director of the team Jean-Louis Valentin said: “I sensed that the players are truthfully sorry, and been left damaged and mortified at what took place, they were conscious of a collective meltdown.

“I believe that now it is imperative we turn the page and move on.

“I believe that to a certain extent there has been a very good dialogue in there (at the commission) which lasted a relatively long time.

“As a lover of the French team, and as a supporter of the France team, I think that each player has the right to a second chance.”

The French players’ union (UNFP) stated that the punishment meted out to the players had been disproportionate, suggesting they had paid the price for Domenech’s failings.

“Because they are disproportionate, the sanctions have no value. Instead, they will impede the progress of Laurent Blanc,” a UNFP statement said.

“The officials who voted for Raymond Domenech to stay in the job in 2008 went unpunished even though everyone knows that they were the real culprits.”

However, the FFF has also withheld World Cup advertising bonuses which were due to be paid to players.

Blanc will now be without the banned players for the team’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, starting against Belarus in Paris on 3 September.

Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 matches by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his conduct at this summer’s World Cup.

Anelka, 31, was sent home from South Africa after a row with coach Raymond Domenech and, in protest, the France squad boycotted a training session.

Patrice Evra was captain of the team and has been banned for five matches for his part in the revolt.

Franck Ribery has been suspended for three and Jeremy Toulalan for one.

Eric Abidal made up the five players who were summoned to the FFF disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and he escaped punishment.

The quintet were highlighted as the key players in the embarrassing controversy which surrounded the French team at the World Cup following Anelka’s outburst at Domenech during the

loss to Mexico

saw him banished.

Evra and Ribery were summoned for not performing their duties properly as captain and vice-captain, while Toulalan was seen as the perpetrator behind a statement read out by Domenech explaining why the players had refused to train.

Abidal’s offence was his refusal to play in the final group match against

South Africa, which France lost 2-1.

France were also beaten 2-0 by Mexico following a

goalless draw in their opening fixture against Uruguay

as they produced a string of poor performances which saw them exit the competition following the group stages.

Anelka did not show up at the disciplinary hearing and his international career now appears to be all but over.

Ribery was also an absentee but his club Bayern Munich did not allow him to attend with the Bundesliga starting its season this weekend and the German champions facing Wolfsburg in their opening game on Friday.

The pair sent representatives, while Evra, Toulalan and Abidal were present for the lengthy hearing, along with Domenech.

Former deputy managing director of the team Jean-Louis Valentin said: “I sensed that the players are truthfully sorry, and been left damaged and mortified at what took place, they were conscious of a collective meltdown.

“I believe that now it is imperative we turn the page and move on.

“I believe that to a certain extent there has been a very good dialogue in there (at the commission) which lasted a relatively long time.

“As a lover of the French team, and as a supporter of the France team, I think that each player has the right to a second chance.”

Domenech has since been replaced by Laurent Blanc, who did not select any of the 23-man World Cup squad for his recent first game in charge against Norway, which France lost 2-1.

And the French players’ union (UNFP) stated that the punishment meted against the players had been disproportionate, suggesting they had paid the price for Domenech’s failings.

“Because they are disproportionate, the sanctions have no value. Instead, they will impede the progress of Laurent Blanc,” a UNFP statement said.

“The officials who voted for Raymond Domenech to stay in the job in 2008 went unpunished even though everyone knows that they were the real culprits.”

However, the FFF has also withheld World Cup advertising bonuses which were due to be paid to players.

Blanc will now be without the banned players for the team’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, starting against Belarus in Paris on 3 September.

Didier Drogba notched a hat-trick as Chelsea signalled their intent to defend their Premier League title by thrashing newly-promoted West Brom.

Florent Malouda struck early on from six yards before Drogba scored with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

Drogba later pounced after a goal-line clearance and scored with a deflected strike from the edge of the area.

Frank Lampard finished an attractive move, while Malouda struck from close range on the stroke of full-time.

Chelsea, who ended last season with an 8-0 thrashing of Wigan, have now won the opening day for the last nine seasons.

And they move instantly to the top of the table after the biggest opening day victory in the history of the Premier League.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti saw his champions play with a confidence, skill and composure that seemingly enabled them to slice open their opponents at will.

It was a chastening afternoon for West Brom and their manager Roberto di Matteo, a former Chelsea player who received a generous reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd.

His team enjoyed phases of play during which the Baggies displayed the sort of smooth passing football that helped them to win promotion from the Championship.

And Di Matteo can take solace in the fact that they will not play such a talented side as Chelsea every week, but the hammering nonetheless provided an instant illustration of the sort of quality that his team will encounter in the top flight.

Indeed, it was a far from complete performance by Chelsea, who at times seemed to be going through the motions before suddenly raising the tempo.

If the home side needed an early goal to dust off the cobwebs of their sluggish pre-season form then it arrived when Malouda scored after just six minutes – but only after some shoddy goalkeeping from Scott Carson.

At the very least, the West Brom keeper should have diverted a Drogba free-kick away from goal but he spilled the ball into his six-yard box and, after he partially atoned for his error by smothering an effort from Jon Mikel Obi, France international Malouda had a simple tap-in.

The Baggies seemed content to pack the midfield and leave Roman Bednar as the lone – and frequently isolated – striker, while Chelsea illuminated the contest at a sodden Stamford Bridge with some delightful passing.

Ashley Cole looked more like a left winger than a left-back, while Lampard pulled off one particularly audacious backheel that would have played Malouda through had he been more alert.

Malouda should later have scored Chelsea’s second but headed over after Carson had acted sharply to palm clear a vicious Lampard free-kick.

Carson had been unhappy with his wall – and he must have been infuriated with it in first-half stoppage time when Chris Brunt and Gabriel Tamas allowed Drogba’s free-kick to fly between them, with the Ivorian’s long-range strike finding the net after bouncing yards in front of the keeper.

Drogba’s strike took the match beyond West Brom, who had played some decent passing football after conceding an early goal.

Di Matteo’s team often let themselves down with some poor decision making and execution in the final third but their approach play was at times crisp and precise.

A low strike from the influential Graham Dorrans took a slight deflection off John Terry and forced a sharp save off Petr Cech, who returned to the Chelsea side after recovering from a calf injury.

And Bednar had the ball in the net with a 20-yard strike but his effort was ruled out for offside.

West Brom continued to catch the eye with some attractive football in the second half but within 10 minutes of the restart Chelsea had extinguished any faint hope of a Baggies comeback.

Chelsea looked threatening at set pieces and it was from a corner that Ancelotti’s team scored their third.

Youssuf Mulumbu made a goal-line clearance after Terry had headed goalwards but the midfielder could not prevent Drogba from smashing home from six yards with a left-foot strike.

Nicolas Anelka and Cole combined to play in Lampard, who struck the fourth from 12 yards.

Drogba completed his hat-trick after 68 minutes, with his strike from a wide angle taking a sizeable deflection off the unlucky Tamas.

It seemed inevitable that Chelsea would score again, but the sell-out crowd had to wait until the final minute for Malouda to collect a pass from Anelka before eluding Carson and shooting into the net off the post.

West Brom might have scored a consolation but Alex managed to deflect a strike from Chris Brunt over his crossbar, while substitute Simon Cox shot wide.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti felt his team did “nothing special” despite defeating West Brom 6-0 in their opening Premier League fixture.

Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick as Chelsea notched the biggest opening-day win in the Premier League.

“We did our job,” said Ancelotti. “This team can show this kind of play, scoring a lot of goals.

“We had a difficult pre-season, but now everything has come back to be OK. We played a good game and I am happy.”

Chelsea lost to Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburg in pre-season friendlies and Manchester United in the Community Shield as they prepared for the defence of their Premier League title.

But the Blues boss explained that the 2010 World Cup finals meant several key players had returned to training late and were still short of peak fitness.

“We knew it would be difficult because we gave a holiday to the World Cup players,” he added. “We made sure they did not come back too early.

“They needed time and good training sessions – and maybe they are not yet 100% but they are already in good condition. They can improve and in two weeks, we will be 100%.”

Drogba scored a free-kick, from short range and with a 20-yard strike that took a deflection as Chelsea kicked off their title defence with an emphatic victory over the newly promoted Baggies.

“He did a fantastic job, not just because he scored, he worked really hard for the team,” stated Ancelotti.

“It is very important to have this mentality from all our strikers.

“Last season he scored a lot of goals, and he has started very well, I think he can do the same again.”

Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup during Ancelotti’s first season in charge in England – and the Italian boss stressed that is was important to start well this season as they defend their silverware.

“We want to do out jobs this season,” commented Ancelotti, whose team finished one point clear of Manchester United last season.

“I think it will be a fantastic Premier League because a lot of teams will be involved at the top.”

Florent Malouda scored twice and Frank Lampard the other as all of Chelsea’s goals on Saturday came from players who were at the World Cup.

“It is the perfect start and the perfect reaction to our poor pre-season,” reflected France international Malouda.

“It is important to have a good start because we are the champions and we want to stay like that.

“The result is good for our confidence in front of goal but the season is long. We have a lot of big games and we have to make sure that we are ready.”

West Brom manager and former Blues midfielder Roberto di Matteo received a warm reception from the Stamford Bridge crowd.

But there was little else to please the 40-year-old Italian as his team were thrashed on their return to the Premier League – his first fixture as a top-flight manager.

“Playing the champions away on the first day of the season, you know it is going to be a tough day for you but I thought the scoreline was a bit harsh,” said Di Matteo.

“There are not a lot of teams which come away from Stamford Bridge with much.

“We know we will have to learn very quickly, but on the upside, we will not be playing Chelsea every week.

“Not every team has the quality this one does. You can see why they are the champions, they are strong across the team, powerful and play well.

“The first three goals were from set pieces and we will have to do better than that. We will keep working on it.”

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Saturday, 14 August Kick-off: 1730 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, talkSPORT & local radio, Final Score, highlights on Match of the Day & live on ESPN

Chelsea will give a late test to midfielder Frank Lampard, who hurt his ankle in England’s 2-1 win against Hungary on Wednesday.

Petr Cech and Alex are available after recovering from injury, while Didier Drogba could feature despite lacking match fitness following hernia surgery.

West Brom are optimistic that Graham Dorrans’ groin injury will not prevent him from starting at Stamford Bridge.

Defender Pablo Ibanez could feature after overcoming a hamstring problem.

Chelsea

Doubtful: Alex (thigh), Cech (calf), Drogba (match fitness)

Injured: Bosingwa (knee)

West Brom

Doubtful: Dorrans (groin), Ibanez (hamstring)

Chelsea have made a habit of hitting the ground running in recent years, and will be looking to win their opening game for the ninth successive season.

The last time the Blues failed to win their first league game was in 2001, when current West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo was part of the playing squad at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian, who famously took just 42 seconds to score for Chelsea in the 1997 FA Cup final, understands better than most the importance of being quick out of the starting blocks.

While an opening-day trip to Stamford Bridge looks fairly daunting for the Baggies, now may be a good time to face the champions. Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield followed three successive losses in pre-season friendlies.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti admits some of his squad are a little ring-rusty, but says the midweek internationals will have helped them improve their match fitness.

Head-to-head

West Brom have lost all eight previous Premier League games against Chelsea, scoring only two goals.

The Baggies’ last league win at Stamford Bridge was in 1978, when they won 3-1.

Chelsea

The Blues are looking to win their opening league game for the ninth successive season. The last time they failed to get off to a winning start was against Newcastle in 2001, when they drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea scored 103 league goals last season, a new Premier League record. They were the first top-flight team to score a century of goals in a single campaign since Tottenham in 1962/63.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side conceded 63% of their goals from set-pieces last season. No other side let in more than 38% of their goals from dead-ball deliveries.

West Brom

Albion have scored in their last 26 league games. The last Championship game in which they failed to net was a 2-0 home defeat against Cardiff last December.

The Baggies won six games and picked up 26 league points from losing positions last season.

West Brom won only one away game as they were relegated from the Premier League in 2008/09. That was a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough in September 2008.

Chelsea

Drogba: 37 goals (29 league); Lampard: 27 goals (22 league)

West Brom

Dorrans: 18 (13 league); Brunt 13 (13 league)

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Kevin Friend

Chelsea (W8-0 v Wigan, h): Cech, Terry, Alex, Cole, Ivanovic (Belletti 59), Malouda, Lampard, Ballack (Matic 70), Drogba, Kalou (Cole 59), Anelka. Subs not used: Ferreira, Zhirkov, Hilario, Sturridge.

West Brom (D1-1 v Barnsley, h): Carson, Cech (Mattock 46), Tamas, Olsson, Brunt, Dorrans, Koren, Reid (Miller 62), Mulumbu, Bednar, Cox (Morrison 53). Subs not used: Kiely, Barnes, Wood, Meite.

Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazil international Ramires from Benfica on a four-year deal.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who will cost the English champions about 17m, passed a medical on Friday.

“He is a fantastic player,” said Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. “He will be the future of the Brazil national team and I hope the future of Chelsea.”

Meanwhile, Brazilian club Santos say they will report Chelsea to Fifa for an alleged illegal approach to Neymar, 18.

The Blues have had one offer of about 16m turned down for the highly-rated striker, who scored on his international debut in midweek.

“The English club presented us with a formal proposal some time back after having begun direct talks with the player and his representatives,” said Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro.

“We refused it, but I found out that the siege continued. That’s intolerable in view of the ethics that must govern relations between the clubs of world football.

“In accordance with Fifa norms, Santos will defend their interests to prevent this type of attitude contrary to (such) principles.”

New signing Ramires, who plays in the centre or on the right of midfield, joined Portuguese giants Benfica last summer for 6.2m from Cruzeiro and has 16 caps for Brazil.

He will miss Saturday’s opening Premier League game against West Brom and join up with his new colleagues next week.

“Every player in the world would love to play for Chelsea and it’s a great opportunity that was given to me, I will give my best to repay this chance, and I am very happy,” Ramires told

chelseafc.com

.

His move to Chelsea was agreed almost two weeks ago but was delayed as club representatives endeavoured to secure a work permit. It was finally granted on Thursday, despite the fact that Ramires has not played the required 75% of matches for his country.

The Brazilian will become the second player to join Carlo Ancelotti’s squad this summer following the arrival of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.

Ramires, whose full name is Ramires Santos do Nascimento, was praised by Brazil boss Dunga after strong displays in the opening stage of the World Cup in South Africa.

If the deal goes through as expected, Benfica will have to repay 6m to sports entrepreneur Kia Joorabchian who part-financed the player’s transfer from Cruzeiro to the Portuguese club.

Press Association Sport says that this arrangement would not present any difficulty under the Premier League’s third party ownership rules.

On their

website,

Benfica said the deal will include full rights for the Premier League side.

Ramires featured throughout Brazil’s opening matches in South Africa, but a booking in the final group game against Portugal ruled him out of his country’s quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.

He joined the Brazil set-up in 2009, in time to play in every game of the country’s successful defence of their Confederations Cup title.

He helped Benfica clinch the Portuguese Liga for the first time in five years, also winning the League Cup in the process.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been seeking to bolster the Blues midfield following the departure of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and the return to Brazil of Deco.

The club rounded off a miserable pre-season with a 3-1 defeat by Manchester United in the Community Shield on Sunday.