Ligue One Roundup, Apr. 30
April 30, 2006French champion Lyon celebrated its fifth straight French league title with blue hair, a pink wig and a 4-0 victory over local rival Saint-Etienne on Sunday, breaking the record for points in a season. Brazilian striker Fred, countryman Juninho, and Benoit Pedretti all tallied after Saint-Etienne midfielder David Hellebuyck scored an own-goal in the eighth minute.
Eriksson would take Rooney if he can play in knockout phase; Owen cleared of injury (AP)
April 30, 2006England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson would select Wayne Rooney for his World Cup roster if he thinks the forward can recover from a broken foot for the later rounds of the tournament. Rooney bone in his right foot playing for Manchester United in a 3-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday and club officials say he will be sidelined for six weeks.
Sporting one point away from Champions League spot (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Sporting and arch-rivals Benfica remained within two points of each other after both posted victories on Sunday in the race for second place in the Portuguese first division and a Champions League third qualifying round spot.
Inzaghi and Lucarelli selected for pre-World Cup training (AP)
April 30, 2006Italy coach Marcello Lippi selected veteran forwards Filippo Inzaghi and Cristiano Lucarelli and newcomers Francesco Tavano and Franco Semioli for a pre-World Cup training camp this week. Inzaghi has scored 12 Serie A goals for AC Milan this season following two seasons hindered by injuries. He has not played for the Azzurri since a European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan in October...
Soccer-Lyon set points record with crushing derby win (Reuters)
April 30, 2006(Updates after Lyon win)
Valencia delay Barca celebrations, Malaga down (Reuters)
April 30, 2006(updates after Osasuna v Real Madrid)
English Premier League Roundup, Apr. 30
April 30, 2006EPL Wrap: Aaron Lennon fired Tottenham closer to a place in next season's Champions League with a win over Bolton on Sunday. The victory put fourth-place Spurs seven points ahead of Arsenal and they will guarantee fourth spot by winning their final Premier League match at West Ham next Sunday.
La Liga Roundup, Apr. 30
April 30, 2006La Liga Wrap: Ruben Baraja, Pablo Aimar and David Villa all scored to bring Valencia a win over Alaves on Sunday, delaying FC Barcelona's Spanish league title celebrations a little longer.The victory by the second-place side left Barcelona to wait until Wednesday when it will be proclaimed champion if it beats Celta Vigo.
Serie A Roundup, Apr. 30
April 30, 2006Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and Adrian Mutu scored in the first eight minutes Sunday to give Juventus a 3-0 win at lowly Siena that snapped the league leader's five-game winless streak. Juventus moved up to 85 points with two games left, three points ahead of second-place AC Milan, which downed visiting Livorno 2-0 on two goals by veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi.
Bixente Lizarazu (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Factbox on former world and European champion Bixente Lizarazu, who said on Sunday he would retire at the end of the season.
Lizarazu announces retirement (Reuters)
April 30, 2006(updates with confirmation of retirement)
Eriksson prepared to take chance on Rooney (Reuters)
April 30, 2006(adds Eriksson's reported comments, King quotes)
Celtic striker Maloney scoops record awards double (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Celtic striker Shaun Maloney has made history by scooping the Scottish Players' Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year awards.
Aguero could have played last game for Independiente (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Seventeen-year-old striker Sergio Aguero, the subject of intense speculation over a possible move to Europe, says he might have played his last game for Independiente.
Allardyce spells out desire to manage England (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce declared on Sunday that becoming England coach would be "a dream come true" after Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari decided against taking the job on Friday.
Tottenham 1-0 Bolton: Lennon dazzles
April 30, 2006Tottenham 1-0 Bolton: Lennon dazzles
by England
'Success without Rooney? Impossible', says Gerrard
April 30, 2006'Success without Rooney? Impossible', says Gerrard
by World Cup
Allardyce: England job between me and McClaren
April 30, 2006Allardyce: England job between me and McClaren
by England
Championship: Reading set new points record
April 30, 2006Championship: Reading set new points record
by England
Hearts 3-0 Celtic: Champions demolished
April 30, 2006Hearts 3-0 Celtic: Champions demolished
by Europe
Serie A: Juve get back on track with 3-0 win
April 30, 2006Serie A: Juve get back on track with 3-0 win
by Europe
FIFA to spend $100m on poorer nations
April 30, 2006FIFA to spend $100m on poorer nations
by Global
Scottish Premier League Roundup, Apr. 30
April 30, 2006Hearts scored twice in the first nine minutes and moved closer to a place in next season's Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Celtic in the Scottish league on Sunday.
Giuly expects Henry to sign for Barcelona
April 30, 2006Giuly expects Henry to sign for Barcelona
by Europe
Owen boost, but England fear worst over Rooney
April 30, 2006Owen boost, but England fear worst over Rooney
by World Cup
'Rooney to miss World Cup group games' - Injury expert
April 30, 2006'Rooney to miss group games' - Injury expert
by World Cup
'Success without Rooney? Impossible', fears Gerrard
April 30, 2006'Success without Rooney? Impossible', fears Gerrard
by World Cup
Pompey's Stefanovic hails saviour Redknapp
April 30, 2006Pompey's Stefanovic hails saviour Redknapp
by England
Ferguson sounds title challenge for next season
April 30, 2006Ferguson sounds title challenge for next season
by England
'It will be harder for Chelsea next season' - Cole
April 30, 2006'It will be harder for Chelsea next season' - Cole
by England
'Mourinho wouldn't have quit Chelsea' - Kenyon
April 30, 2006'Mourinho wouldn't have quit Chelsea' - Kenyon
by England
Beckenbauer blasts Blues-bound Ballack
April 30, 2006Beckenbauer blasts Blues-bound Ballack
by Europe
Birmingham 0-0 Newcastle: Relegation Blues
April 30, 2006Birmingham 0-0 Newcastle: Relegation Blues
by England
Wigan 1-2 Portsmouth: Survival confirmed
April 30, 2006Wigan 1-2 Portsmouth: Survival confirmed
by England
Pizarro header clinches 13th German Cup for Bayern
April 30, 2006Pizarro header clinches 13th German Cup for Bayern
by Europe
Eriksson must decide on injured Rooney (AP)
April 30, 2006England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must decide whether to name injured Wayne Rooney to England's World Cup squad. The Manchester United striker broke a bone in his right foot during United's 3-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday, and he is expected to be out for six weeks. England faces Paraguay on June 10 in its first World Cup game, exactly six weeks after Rooney's injury.
UPDATE 1-Soccer-Rooney injury leaves England fearing the worst (Reuters)
April 30, 2006In LONDON item headlined UPDATE 1-Soccer-Rooney injury leaves England fearing the worst, please read age in para seven as 26 not 20. Corrected repeat follows.
Lizarazu set to announce retirement - report (Reuters)
April 30, 2006Former World Cup and European champion winner Bixente Lizarazu is expected to announce on Sunday that he will end his playing career at the end of the season, French sports daily L'Equipe reported.
Owen x-ray reveals no damage, say Newcastle United (Reuters)
April 30, 2006England striker Michael Owen has suffered no further damage to his foot following his comeback from injury, his club Newcastle United said on Sunday.
Bayern wins 13th German Cup
April 30, 2006German Cup: Claudio Pizarro's header in the 59th minute gave Bayern Munich its 13th German Cup title Saturday with a 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern's target is to become the first German team to repeat the domestic double. In the Bundesliga, Bayern has a five-point lead with three games remaining.
Romanian coach suffers heart problems
April 30, 2006Sportul Bucharest coach Gheorghe Multescu was hospitalized late Saturday with heart problems after the first division club's thrilling 5-4 win over crosstown rival Dinamo.
Chivas USA, Red Bulls end in 0-0 tie
April 30, 2006MLS Wrap: Tony Meola made seven saves for the New York Red Bulls and Brad Guzan had five for Chivas USA in the teams' scoreless tie Saturday night.
Ligue One Roundup, Apr. 29
April 30, 2006Bonaventure Kalou and Vikash Dhorasoo scored a goal each as Paris Saint-Germain beat fierce rival Marseille 2-1 to win the French Cup for the seventh time on Saturday. Toifilou Maoulida pulled a goal back for 10-time Cup winner Marseille. The win guaranteed PSG, which in eighth spot in the French first division, a place in next season's UEFA Cup. Kalou struck in the fifth minute after a mistake from Marseille's Nigeria defender, Taye Taiwo.