World Cup-bound Chile face FIFA suspension
Soccernet staffSouth American qualifiers Chile face possible FIFA expulsion and the forfeit of their World Cup place after local club Rangers opened a court case to dispute their relegation.
Story | Conversation | November 26, 2009FIFA rejects replay request to end Irish hopes
Soccernet staffFIFA has ruled that the World Cup play-off between the Republic of Ireland and France cannot be replayed.
Story | Conversation | November 20, 2009Brazil legend feels Capello has it all to do in 2010
Robin HackettRobin Hackett speaks to legendary Brazil captain Carlos Alberto about the state of English football.
Story | Conversation | November 20, 2009Löw hails resilient Germany on emotional night
Germany coach Joachim Löw praised his side for their performance in Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast in what were difficult circumstances just days after Robert Enke was laid to rest.
Story | Conversation | November 19, 2009Villain Henry as Ireland, Ukraine, Russia exit in play-offs
Soccernet staffAll 32 World Cup finalists are now decided after play-offs in Europe, Africa and between Uruguay and Costa Rica confirmed the continents' representatives in South Africa.
Story | Conversation | November 18, 2009Germany 2-2 Ivory Coast: Emotional night
Lukas Podolski scored twice, including a 93rd-minute equaliser, as Germany's first match since the death of Robert Enke ended in a draw against Ivory Coast.
Story | November 18, 2009Slovakia 1-2 Chile
Chile beat fellow World Cup qualifiers Slovakia 2-1 in a friendly in Zilina on Tuesday night.
Story | November 17, 2009Coupet hails "phenomenal" Lloris
Soccernet staffGregory Coupet has hailed his successor as France number one, Hugo Lloris, a "phenomenon'' after the Lyon goalkeeper's clean sheet against the Republic of Ireland put Les Bleus on the brink of the World Cup finals.
Story | Conversation | November 17, 2009James: I'll be fit for World Cup finals
Soccernet staffEngland goalkeeper David James expects to be fully fit for next summer's World Cup finals despite struggling with injuries this season.
Story | Conversation | November 17, 2009Ivory Coast FA explain Kalou absence
Soccernet staffIvory Coast striker Salomon Kalou was left out of the World Cup qualifier against Guinea at the weekend after an altercation with a team mate, the Ivorian Football Federation said on Tuesday.
Story | Conversation | November 17, 2009Favorites assume the upper hand
Leander SchaerlaeckensIn the first leg of the European World Cup playoffs, the favorites took control of their own destinies.
Story | Conversation | November 16, 2009Fabio Capello speaks
Phil BallFabio Capello got it wrong when he said Brazil were better than Spain, says Phil Ball.
Story | Conversation | November 16, 2009New Zealand 1-0 Bahrain
New Zealand claimed their place at next year's World Cup finals with a pulsating win over Bahrain in the second leg of their play-off. Striker Rory Fallon headed home the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time, while goalkeeper Mark Paston also saved a penalty to see the All Whites through to South Africa. In front of a capacity crowd at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday night, New Zealand repeated the efforts of the national team of 1982. The 35,194 boisterous fans, the largest crowd to watch a football match in New Zealand, made their presence felt with a continuous cacophony that started well before the opening whistle and continued long after referee Jorge Larrionda blew for full-time. The result gave the All Whites a 1-0 aggregate win following the goalless draw in Manama on October 10. The hosts were under early pressure conceding two corners and having defender Ben Sigmund yellow-carded in just the third minute. They gave Bahrain goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffar his first test in the eighth minute when a Shane Smeltz header across the goalmouth from a Leo Bertos free-kick found captain Ryan Nelsen, but his looping header found the top of the net. Striker Chris Killeen almost broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he sent a delightful left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area beyond the Bahrain goalkeeper but off the crossbar. Soon after attacking midfielder Bertos, having made his presence felt with a number of early runs at the defence, sent a right-footed free-kick just wide of Jaffar's left-hand post. All Whites goalkeeper Paston was on hand on the half-hour to dive low to his left and deny a snap volley in front of goal by Bahrain front man Jaycee John. Jaffar then produced a superb reflex save from a goalbound header by Fallon with half-time closing in, with Bertos again involved in the play in providing the cross. But that was all in vain in the 45th minute when, from a Bertos corner, Fallon rose highest in the six-yard area to send a powerful header beyond Jaffar. On the balance of play the All Whites half-time lead was deserved, with Bertos and a Tony Lochhead providing most of the sting in the home side's attacking forays. The drama intensified in the 50th minute when referee Larrionda pointed to the penalty spot after Lochhead fouled Abdulla Ismaeel Omar. However, the combination of a poor strike from Sayed Mohamed Adnan and a perfectly-timed dive by Paston to his right kept the All Whites in front. New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen increasingly stamped his class on the match, organising the defence as the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Smeltz came close to doubling the tally with 20 minutes to play but his close-range strike flashed wide. Killeen then sent an overhead kick on the six-yard box high over the cross bar with nine minutes remaining. Desperate defending from All Whites pair Ivan Vicelich and Nelsen spurred the home side on in the closing minutes. In the end it was one shot for glory, and Fallon and New Zealand, took it.
Story | November 13, 2009FA deny airport pull-out threat for Brazil friendly
The Football Association have denied threatening to pull out of their prestigious friendly with Brazil over a row over which terminal they could use at Doha Airport.
Story | Conversation | November 14, 2009Nilmar nets winner to beat England in Doha
Wayne Rooney's first game as England captain ended in defeat as a severely depleted side were beaten by five-time world champions Brazil in Qatar.
Story | November 13, 2009EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS
TOP SEARCHES IN OCTOBER
NFL Expert Picks tops ESPN.com searches in October. Did "numbers" make the list?
INTERNET EXPLORER 8
Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 8 is faster, easier, and safer than ever.
Accelerators let you map directions, translate words, email your friends, and more in just a few mouse clicks.
Web Slices Keep up with changes to the sites you care about most. Add a Web Slice and you won't have to go back to the same website again and again for updates on news, stock quotes, online auctions, weather, or even sports scores.