PREVIEW-Soccer-Inter and Roma face Cup distraction (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

By Simon Evans

Nike, Puma chase Adidas in World Cup battle (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

By Ulf Laessing

Ecuador's soccer squad coordinator arrested (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

Ecuador's national squad coordinator, one of the country's best-known soccer managers, was arrested on Monday as part of an investigation in immigrant trafficking, his lawyer told Reuters.

Injured Cafu declares himself ready for World Cup

March 20, 2006

Cafu declares himself ready for World Cup

by World Cup

Conrad tries to push through the bubble

March 20, 2006

Germany vs. USA: Jimmy Conrad is on the World Cup bubble. He didn't make his debut for the U.S. national team until last July, when he was 28 years old. Now the Kansas City Wizards defender finds himself competing for one of the final spots on the American roster.

FA Cup Roundup, Mar. 20

March 20, 2006

FA Cup: Dean Ashton scored in both halves to lead West Ham over Manchester City 2-1 on Monday for a berth in the semifinals, its first since 1991. Ashton put West Ham ahead 1-0 in the 41st minute, then made it 2-0 in the 69th.

FA Cup gallery, Mar. 20

March 20, 2006

MLS wants to hitch expansion to stadium

March 20, 2006

Major League Soccer announced plans to put an expansion team in a stadium that Rowan University hopes to build on its new auxiliary campus, located in a fast-growing Philadelphia suburb.

Loan target Rossi to stay put

March 20, 2006

Manchester United will not allow impressive youngster Giuseppe Rossi to leave on loan before the end of the season.

FA Cup: Blues block Shearer's dream

March 20, 2006

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer is desperate to prolong his dream of glory as he heads into what could be the last cup tie of his illustrious career.

'Cisse issues Toon apology'

March 20, 2006

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez revealed Djibril Cisse has apologised for his inflamatory gesture towards the Newcastle fans.

Ashton the hero as Hammers nail FA Cup semi-final spot (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Dean Ashton capped a sterling striker's performance with two goals in a 2-1 away win at Manchester City to send West Ham into the FA Cup semi finals for the first time in 15 years.

U.S. without many regulars for friendly against Germany (SportsTicker)

March 20, 2006

DORTMUND, Germany (Ticker) - Bruce Arena will be missing several regular contributors Wednesday when the United States men's soccer team faces Germany in a key friendly before June's World Cup here.

Germany's coach insists he will stay the course (AP)

March 20, 2006

Despite all the setbacks and all the criticism, Juergen Klinsmann insists he is on target for his overriding task -- a World Cup title. "We will not stray from our course," the coach says. Few Germans, however, still believe their team is capable of winning a fourth World Cup despite hosting the June 9-July 9 tournament.

Southampton 1-3 Watford: Hornets on the up

March 20, 2006

Southampton 1-3 Watford: Hornets on the up

by England

Man City 1-2 West Ham: Ashton bags brace

March 20, 2006

Man City 1-2 West Ham: Ashton bags brace

by England

Wenger unwilling to meet Pires's contract demands

March 20, 2006

Pires offered one more but no more

by England

Campell turns out for Arsenal reserves

March 20, 2006

Campell turns out for Arsenal reserves

by England

Dutch Immigration Minister turns down Kalou

March 20, 2006

Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou lost his bid for Dutch citizenship on Monday and cannot play for the Netherlands at the World Cup. Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk turned down the Ivory Coast-born Kalou's request to fast-track naturalization, saying he must follow the rules and pass an immigration test. The 20-year-old Kalou, who has already failed the test once, could retake it on May 10 at the earliest - five days before Netherlands coach Marco Van Basten chooses his World Cup squad.

Win makes Rafa a happy man

March 20, 2006

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was a happy man after seeing his side maintain their challenge for automatic Champions League qualification with a resounding 3-1 win at Newcastle.

Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3

March 20, 2006

Liverpool kept the pressure on Manchester United in the race for automatic Champions League qualification as 10-man Newcastle were defeated at St James' Park.

Trial against FIFA opens

March 20, 2006

The conflict between the world's richest soccer clubs and FIFA moved to a Belgian court Monday, where a local team demanded compensation from the world governing body for an injury sustained by its star player on international duty.

G14 launch bid to sue FIFA for 860 million euros (AFP)

March 20, 2006

The G14 group of Europe's 18 most powerful football clubs launched their bid to sue FIFA for 860 million euros in a Belgian court.

Galeone takes over at Udinese after Sensini quits (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

Struggling Serie A club Udinese have appointed Giovanni Galeone as their new coach after Argentine Nestor Sensini resigned on Monday.

New pitch for Hamburg World Cup stadium (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

Hamburg SV will re-lay the pitch at their World Cup stadium this week after a game of American football ruined the playing surface.

CSKA Sofia's Silva to extend contract to 2009 (Reuters)

March 20, 2006

CSKA Sofia's Brazilian-born defender Tiago Silva will extend his contract with the Bulgarian champions until 2009, the club said on its website on Monday.

Former Nazi sites in Nuremberg will be open to England fans (AFP)

March 20, 2006

The former site of Nazi rallies in the German city of Nuremberg will not be closed to England fans during the World Cup finals this summer, the city's mayor insisted.

World Cup blow as Kalou's bid for Dutch nationality again rejected (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou's bid for Dutch citizenship has once again been turned down by the country's immigration minister Rita Verdonk.

Clemence fronts England fan image campaign in Germany (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Former England international goalkeeper Ray Clemence, now part of the coaching set-up, was in Cologne as part of a programme geared towards improving the relationship between German and English fans ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Wenger unwilling to meet Pires's contract demands

March 20, 2006

Pires offered one more but no more

by England

'England not from outer space', observes Gamarra

March 20, 2006

'England not from outer space', observes Gamarra

by World Cup

Chelsea deny FA charge over Hawthorns affair

March 20, 2006

Chelsea deny FA charge

by England

FA launch investigation into pitch invasion

March 20, 2006

FA probe 'mindless violence'

by England

Cloeman discovers the secret to beating Chelsea

March 20, 2006

Coleman solves Chelsea riddle

by England

Dutch authorities end Kalou's World Cup dream

March 20, 2006

Dutch authorities end Kalou's World Cup dream

by World Cup

FIFA fail to avert Belgian club v country court battle

March 20, 2006

FIFA fail to avert club v country battle

by Europe

Galeone takes over from Sensini at Udinese

March 20, 2006

Galeone takes over from Sensini at Udinese

by Europe

Domestic cup offers Lyon treble chance

March 20, 2006

Domestic cup offers Lyon treble chance

by Europe

Wembley Stadium site evacuated

March 20, 2006

Some 3,000 workers were evacuated from the Wembley Stadium construction site Monday when part of the roof collapsed with "an enormous bang". Last month, the FA moved the FA Cup final to Millennium Stadium because it didn't seem Wembley would be ready in time.

Trial against FIFA opens

March 20, 2006

The conflict between the world's richest clubs and FIFA moved to a Belgian commercial court Monday, where a local team is seeking compensation from the governing body of world soccer after its star player returned injured from international duty.

O'Leary: Home form has cost us

March 20, 2006

David O'Leary has described Aston Villa's season as "indifferent" as speculation mounts over his future with the club.

Monday's Bare Bones Gossip

March 20, 2006

The Real deal, Wee Bobby looks North and the latest on Ing-ger-land...

FA to probe Fulham pitch invasion (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Football Association (FA) chief executive Brian Barwick promised a full probe into the pitch invasion at Craven Cottage which followed Fulham's 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the weekend.

Steel fall prompts evacuation from Wembley stadium site (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Workers were evacuated from the site of the new Wembley stadium after a piece of steel fell from the roof, construction firm Multiplex revealed.

Wenger gets tough over Pires contract (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Arsenal star Robert Pires could be heading for the exit at Highbury after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger rejected his request for a longer-term contract.

Keane drops retirement hint after Celtic Cup triumph (AFP)

March 20, 2006

Celtic star Roy Keane has warned he may be forced to retire from the game after his latest injury setback.

Real Madrid target AC Milan coach Ancelotti

March 20, 2006

Real Madrid target Ancelotti

by Europe

FA to launch investigation into pitch invasion

March 20, 2006

FA probe 'mindless violence'

by England

Beckham watches Real's title hopes die from bench

March 20, 2006

Beckham watches Real's title hopes die

by Europe

Pardew talks up Cup occasion

March 20, 2006

Pardew talks up Cup occasion

by England

Construction workers evacuated from Wembley

March 20, 2006

Wembley roof raises safety concerns

by England

Bruce won't quit if he fails to beat the drop

March 20, 2006

Bruce in no mood to quit Blues

by England

Serie A Roundup, Mar. 19

March 20, 2006

Serie A Wrap: Andriy Shevchenko scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season Sunday to help second-place AC Milan beat struggling Udinese in the Serie A. Third-place Inter Milan remained two points behind its city rival with a win over Lazio.

Has Chelsea overdosed on winning?

March 20, 2006

Chelsea has experienced the high of winning for well over a season now. But Sunday saw Jose Mourinho's troops taste defeat against Fulham and Nick Webster says that like an addict, they have come crashing back to earth.

Mexican Roundup, Mar. 19

March 20, 2006

MFL Wrap: Octavio Mora scored for the second time in four days and San Luis won its third straight, 2-0 over America on Sunday to climb atop Group 1 in the Mexican Clausura championship. The victory gave San Luis 16 points, one better than Tecos, which ended its six-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory at UNAM Pumas on Sunday.

Argentine League Roundup, Mar. 19

March 20, 2006

Federico Higuain scored twice and River Plate reclaimed the lead in the Argentine Clausura championship, beating Olimpo 3-0 on Sunday.

La Liga Roundup, Mar. 19

March 20, 2006

La Liga Wrap: Real Madrid fell further behind in the Spanish league after a 0-0 draw against visiting Real Betis on Sunday. Valencia also lost ground on league leader FC Barcelona after losing to Racing Santander 2-1.

Euro Action, Mar. 19

March 20, 2006

Fulham tried to influence referee says Mourinho (AFP)

March 20, 2006

) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho accused Fulham's players of influencing the referee after watching his side crash to their third defeat of the season at Craven Cottage.