It is rare for Tiger Woods to win a tournament while stumbling over the line but where the world No 1 differed from his opponents on the back nine of the final round of the AmEx World Championship was that he did not fall flat on his face. Tiger won despite bogeying the last two holes and returning his only over-par round of the week, a 72, which was still good enough for a two-stroke victory over Vijay Singh, Tim Herron and Stuart Appleby at the Capital City Club.Until Woods collected the first-place cheque for $632,000 (£380,000), Singh was leading the United States money list but could not make a birdie after the seventh. He has gone on record as saying that tackling drugs in soccer is a priority.The former professional footballer-turned-accountant is known to be concerned about threats to withhold £20 million Government funding for grassroots football if the FA does not fall in line with the worldwide code against drugs in sport.The code includes a statutory two-year ban for a first offence but in a recent high-profile case - Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich - the FA imposed only a nine-month suspension.Pressure to be tough on drugs had to be weighed against Eriksson's wish to field England's strongest side.The Ferdinand issue was at least partly behind the two-day delay in naming the squad.. He was moving house that day and rushed off after training and forgot all about the test."He added that as soon as the player realised his mistake he took the test a few days later and passed.Manchester United confirmed Ferdinand missed the test on 23 September but passed another examination 36 hours later.The club said: "The player has not been charged with any offence, but has been asked to attend a personal interview on Monday 13 October to explain the reasons behind his non-attendance."Rio will have had no opportunity to outline his position before this interview."The player underwent a routine official FA drugs test 36 hours later on 25 September and this was negative."It has been suggested that new FA chief executive Mark Palios was instrumental in the decision. Manchester United are not either - one of their biggest assets has been named and shamed completely contrary to the FA's own code of practice."A source close to the player said: "He did not fail or refuse to take a drugs test at any time."There was a routine drugs test at Manchester United's training ground a couple of weeks ago. I'm a football manager and of course I always want the best team.

But on this occasion with Rio it's not possible."I've been told and I have to accept that," Eriksson said.The FA will then decide whether further action is necessary. He took the test 36 hours later and passed.It is believed his actions were behind the two-day delay in naming the squad while FA officials decided whether he should be included.While the FA confirmed the England squad in a hotel in St Albans, Ferdinand was thought to be nearly 200 miles away at his £2 million mansion in Alderley Edge in Cheshire.The defender has not been charged with any offence and is due to attend an FA hearing next week to offer an explanation.England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told a press conference: "It's a pity for England as a team - but it's a decision that's been taken and I have to accept it and respect it."I'm very sorry that we can't do it (play Ferdinand). Rio Ferdinand, Britain's most expensive footballer, was dropped today from the England team for Saturday's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey after missing a drugs test. The Football Association said Ferdinand would not be travelling to Istanbul with the England squad.The 24-year-old, who cost Manchester United £30 million and earns £100,000 a week, is normally a lynchpin of the England defence.Today's announcement confirmed speculation that Ferdinand would be axed after missing a routine drugs test.The footballer is said to have forgotten to give a sample after a club training session. Alf Ramsey's reign as manager was effectively over.FINAL TABLE PWDLFAPts Poland 4211635 England4121344 Wales4112353. An upset was likely from the moment the visitors took the lead through Jan Domarski Alan Clarke equalised but England could not score again. The night before the game, Brian Clough labelled the Polish goalkeeper, Jan Tomaszewski, "a clown" Inevitably, he played a blinder.

England had to win their final qualifier at Wembley against Poland and they were off to Germany. The Czechs won their last game against Cyprus 3-0.FINAL TABLE PWDLFAPts Czechoslvkia64111559 England63211138 Portugal6231577 Cyprus60060160 WORLD CUP 1974 To the wire Outcome: Failure.The task seemed simple. That gave them eight points and a goal difference of +8 against the Czech's seven points and a goal difference of +7. Outcome: Failure.England started their last qualifier on top of the table, ended it on top of the table despite only getting a draw away in Portugal, and then missed out on progressing when Czechoslovakia won their own last game, four days later England drew 1-1 in Lisbon thanks to a Mick Channon goal. But then Italy beat Luxembourg 3-0 and Greenwood's side missed out on goal difference.FINAL TABLE PWDLFAPts Italy650118410 England650115410 Finland 620411164 Luxembourg60062220 EURO 76 To the wire. Greenwood gambled against Italy, naming three uncapped players (Peter Barnes, Steve Coppell and Bob Latchford) while restoring Kevin Keegan as his central striker.

The gamble paid off with Keegan scoring for 1-0 and then Trevor Brooking sealing a 2-0 win with his first international goal England went top. Outcome: Failure.England had to endure two "final" matches in the group. The first, on 16 November 1977, was their own last game, against Italy, which they had to win. The second, on 3 December, was Italy's last game, which they were expected to win against Luxembourg. England won the deciding match 1-0 with the striker Paul Mariner scoring the vital goal. "There was no great euphoria," said the England manager, Ron Greenwood, of the dressing-room, "just satisfaction and gratitude that we were able to benefit from the second chance we were given by Switzerland's results."FINAL TABLE PWDLFAPts Hungary8422138 10 England8413138 9 Romania8242558 Switzerland82339127 Norway82248156 EURO 80Qualification secured before the final group matchesFINAL TABLE PWDLFAPts England871022515 N Ireland84138149 Rep Ireland8233987 Bulgaria82156145 Denmark812513174 WORLD CUP 1978 To the wire.