Striker Thierry Henry became the latest member of the France squad to criticise the Stade de France boo-boys in the wake of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Mexico in a World Cup warm-up match.
National coach Raymond Domenech and team captain Zinedine Zidane have already hit out at local supporters after they jeered goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and [...]

Steven Gerrard, England’s newest number nine, answered the call for goals - but Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup masterplan did not clear any confusion.
Gerrard marked his promotion into the "hole" left empty by Wayne Rooney with a beautiful headed goal to set England on the road to victory.
John Terry and Peter Crouch also netted and Theo [...]

Rooney is just one of the best players for England. Eriksson’s squad are "match-winners, players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it for you."
 
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand has insisted that England can still win the World Cup this summer, even if Wayne Rooney fails to make [...]

Perennial favourites Brazil have attracted money ahead of the next big football tournament in Germany in two weeks time. By then Barcelona FC ace Ronaldinho will be at the peak of his powers but greats like Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo will be well past their prime.

South American teams don’t win European based [...]

With the big kick-off in Germany approaching fast, there were promising signs from several strikers who looked in fine fettle in the FIFA World Cup warm-up games played this weekend.
With new tactical systems being tested and much chopping and changing of line-ups, the last try-outs before the start of the tournament are always of dubious [...]

Sports Betting Index begins its preview at World Cup 2006 first round with a capsule look at Group A. Hosts Germany are the obvious favorites, but squabbling over coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s methods has not exactly pumped the team with confidence. Meanwhile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Poland will probably arrive feeling they have something to prove.

Costa [...]

Striker Wayne Rooney will miss the start of England’s World Cup campaign with a broken right foot but could be back in training within three weeks.
Manchester United said on Friday a scan showed Rooney’s metatarsal break was healing as expected and another scan on June 14 could clear the way for the 20-year-old to [...]

D-day for Wayne Rooney turned out to spell disaster for goalkeeper Robert Green.
As England fans waited for Manchester United to offer information about the all-important MRI scan on Rooney’s broken foot, Sven-Goran Eriksson was hit with another injury blow.
Green was carried off with a suspected torn groin muscle, five minutes after coming on as a [...]

England B fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Belarus in a World Cup warm-up match.
Jermaine Jenas had given Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side the lead during a promising first half but a bizarre injury to goalkeeper Robert Green - which looks set to rule him out of the World Cup - allowed the visitors to level [...]

Juan Roman Riquelme believes Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup but has not ruled his own Argentina side out of the reckoning.
The Villarreal playmaker said: "Brazil are the favourites because of the players they have.
"They can win matches on their own, we can’t deny that, but Argentina are among the top teams [...]