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)
guardian.co.uk Sport:
Ireland, guided by their Italian coach to the threshold of the World Cup finals, were denied in the end by two strokes of ill luckIt is a cliché that football is all about players. You can take as many systems and tactical innovations, motivational speeches and inspired substitutions as you please but no coach has ever won (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Midfielder could make first start against Manchester City• He is potentially one of the best in the world, says TottiAlberto Aquilani is in contention to make his long-awaited full Liverpool debut on Saturday as Rafael Benítez looks to the £20m summer signing to reinvigorate the club's season against Manchester City.The I (Read More)
The Guardian:
The League Managers Association honoured 14 veterans who have been in charge for 1,000 games or moreThey mounted the stage like stiff-kneed survivors from some brutal expedition: the 14 living veterans of 1,000 or more games in league football management. The other four – Sir Bobby Robson, Brian Clough, Alec Stock and Sir M (Read More)
The Guardian:
• Negotiations first test of Arnesen's ability in transfer market• Chelsea keen to make signing ahead of Gaël Kakuta hearingChelsea's pursuit of Atlético Madrid's Sergio Agüero is being driven by the club's director of football, Frank Arnesen, in what represents the first major test of his ability to operate in the transfer (Read More)
Submitted by Simonharris
from blog:
Hello there. I'm just wondering whether the following might be of interest to some of you.I'd become cheesed off by football in England, from where I emigrated to southern Spain two and a half years ago (level playing field and ambition ruined by mone... (Read More)
The Guardian:
The Guardian takes a lesson in scouting from the team that gave Carlos Queiroz a dossier on BosniaIf Portugal progress to the World Cup finals, Carlos Queiroz might have good reason to thank a small company on the outskirts of Birmingham as well as the stellar names that decorate his squad. Derek Bragg, who runs an independ (Read More)
The Guardian:
War of words could again spill over into the violence as Arab rivals contest the last African slotArab unity faces a severe test tonight – not over attitudes to Palestine, Iraq, or any of the usual hot items on the Middle Eastern political agenda, but over the battle between the Egyptian and Algerian soccer teams for the la (Read More)