guardian.co.uk Sport:
• France move up to seventh in world rankings• Spain move into first, England drop to ninthFrance have risen two places in the Fifa world rankings following their controversial World Cup play-off win over the Republic of Ireland.The French have moved up to seventh on the back of their 2-1 aggregate win over the Irish, secur (Read More)
The Guardian:
From the 2005 Champions League final to a Prenton Park classic, here are half a dozen of the best games of the noughties1) Milan 3-3 Liverpool, 2005 Champions League finalIn 2001 a prankster named Karl Power crept into the Manchester United team photo ahead of their quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich. But the Champio (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Henry 'not proud' of Ireland handball incident• Barça coach would support use of video analysis in gamesThierry Henry was confronted by a giant, eight-foot poster of himself emblazoned with the words "I'm sorry" when he departed Barcelona's training ground this afternoon as the fall out continues following his handball ag (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Los Angeles Galaxy to face Real Salt Lake• Midfielder's right ankle hampered by bone bruiseDavid Beckham will have a painkilling injection in order to be fit for Sunday's MLS Cup final, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder said tonight. Beckham, 34, has been struggling with a bruised bone in his right ankle during the Galaxy (Read More)
guardian.co.uk Sport:
• Uefa said to be 'stunned' by scale of match-fix ring• Champions League games among those affectedPolice forces across Europe have arrested 17 people in co-ordinated raids as part of an investigation into a match-fixing ring which affected up to 200 games including some in the Champions League.German prosecutors investigat (Read More)
The Guardian:
Have your say on all of the day's big stories, be sure to post your favourite links and also follow us on Twitter8.40am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. You're probably familiar with the concept by now, but if not, the idea is this: throughout the day we will update this page with news, links, and wh (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Champions League fixtures among games under scrutiny • Arrests made by police in Germany and SwitzerlandAround 200 games across nine countries have been implicated in the biggest match-fixing scandal to hit European football, with German police yesterday warning the cases they had so far uncovered were "only the tip of th (Read More)
guardian.co.uk Sport:
• Christine Lagarde: 'It's sad to have qualified on this cheating'• Henry is a 'good person and great player', says BeckhamWorld soccer's governing body Fifa should order replays of matches where "cheating" affects the outcome, a senior French government minister said on Friday.France sealed their place at the 2010 World Cu (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Donovan scored 12 goals for Galaxy in regular season• Beckham reiterates commitment to football in the USThe LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has been named Major League Soccer's most valuable player after helping to lead his side to the MLS championship final for the first time since 2005.Donovan has often been talked ab (Read More)
The Guardian:
There will be no complaints from Fifa, TV broadcasters or fans that the best nations qualified for South AfricaMost of the leading countries have made their way to the 2010 World Cup finals, even if some took a devious route. France have probably got over the sense of shame, assuming there ever was a flicker of penitence. A (Read More)
The Guardian:
James Richardson welcomes a bumper panel of Paul Doyle, Barry Glendenning, Sean Ingle and Jonathan Wilson to discuss the week's dramatic World Cup play-offs.The pod start by discussing the reaction in Paris and Dublin to Thierry Henry's double handball before William Gallas's goal, before arguing about video technology, Hen (Read More)
The Guardian:
Subscribe here for your own daily copy delivered to your inboxTHE INCREASINGLY BAD LUCK OF THE IRISHStepping over our red-haired, green-felt-hat-wearing alcoholic Irish cousin Theme Pub O'Fiver as he lay unconscious in a pool of his own sick in the wake of Ireland's defeat at the hands of France this morning, the Fiver wond (Read More)
The Guardian:
After last night's handball, Ireland might finally be forced to cut English fans a little slack over their Hand of God whingingWhat I am about write pains me, as it probably does every Irish football fan, but after Ireland's exit from the World Cup in Paris I now know how the English feel.For almost 23 years the English hav (Read More)
The Guardian:
How did the internet react to Thierry Henry handball in the build-up to William Gallas goal for France against Ireland?The internet has enabled clubs, national associations and sport governing bodies to bypass traditional media and deliver "official" coverage of sporting events direct to fans. The FA in England has recently (Read More)
guardian.co.uk Sport:
• Thierry Henry 'blatantly' offside as well, claims Dermot Ahern• Kevin Kilbane says France captain admitted handball to himThe Irish Justice Minister demanded a rematch today after a blatant handball put France into the football World Cup finals.Dermot Ahern lashed out at governing body Fifa after the Republic of Ireland w (Read More)