Football
With this team in tatters, it's time FFA bosses took blame for the mess
MICHAEL LYNCH Australia surely must have run out of sackcloth and ashes.
England's soft centre may yet melt World Cup hopes
Alan Hansen Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is the biggest danger to England's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup on Tuesday as he is so well equipped to exploit the weak heart of the English defence.
England want to play Socceroos, report says
SEBASTIAN HASSETT England are reportedly keen to play Australia in a friendly next month - provided the Three Lions have already qualified for the World Cup in Brazil.
Ange Postecoglou firms for Socceroos hot seat
DOMINIC BOSSI Football Federation Australia is set to reject the lure of a big-name foreigner and appoint an Australian as the new Socceroos coach, with Melbourne Victory boss Ange Postecoglou emerging as the favourite to lead the nation to next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Wanderers striker Tomi Juric sees Tony Popovic as a Socceroos coach
DOMINIC BOSSI Western Sydney Wanderers striker Tomi Juric says his coach Tony Popovic could be the perfect man to repair the Socceroos in time for the 2014 World Cup in June but hopes he sticks with the A-League premiers in favour of the national team.
Josh Brillante backs maturity of Newcastle's youngsters
DOMINIC BOSSI Newcastle may have one of the youngest squads in the A-League but young Socceroo Josh Brillante warns rivals not to regard their youth as a lack of experience.
Competition for places shows Wanderers' strength, says Michael Beauchamp
SEBASTIAN HASSETT Western Sydney Wanderers captain Michael Beauchamp is thrilled Socceroos defender Matthew Spiranovic is joining the club, but vowed he won't relinquish his starting place without a fight.
We will be No.1, declares David Gallop on eve of new A-League season
SEBASTIAN HASSETT Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop used Tuesday's A-League launch to make the boldest statement of his reign, declaring football will one day become Australia's national sport.
Struggles over for Sky Blues, says Del Piero
DOMINIC BOSSI Never Again. With those two words, Alessandro Del Piero pledged that Sydney FC would finally return to the summit of Australian football after spending the past three seasons in the doldrums of the A-League.
Brent McGrath Adelaide-bound as Djite struggles
DOMINIC BOSSI Fringe Socceroo striker Brent McGrath is set to join Adelaide United after being offered a short-term contract as an injury replacement player.
In-form Gunners on target again to stretch winning streak on anniversary
Champions League Arsenal did not let down Arsene Wenger on his 17th anniversary as manager on Tuesday, easing to a 2-0 win over Napoli and taking a huge step towards the competition's knockout stages.
Red alert for Moyes: Fergie-less United are floundering
Alan Hansen David Moyes is having to meet the challenge of replacing Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager at the same time as breaking up a team which, in my opinion, was able to win two of the last three Premier League titles only because of the sheer force of Ferguson's will and personality.
Returning Luis Suarez sends Liverpool second
Tom Williams Luis Suarez crowned his Premier League return with a brace as Liverpool won 3-1 at bottom club Sunderland on Sunday to climb to second place in the table.
Arsenal top as City and United fall in upsets
Arsenal inched clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday after Manchester United crashed at home to West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City lost at Aston Villa.
Sydney FC routed by Perth in final A-League pre-season hitout
Alessandro Del Piero has started his first game since returning from Sydney FC’s pre-season trip of Italy as the Sky Blues were spanked 3-0 by Perth in their final hitout before the A-League begins next month.
Barcelona ace Lionel Messi to miss three weeks with thigh injury
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been ruled out for up to three weeks by a thigh injury he suffered in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Almeria on Saturday.
Arsenal on top as Manchester United, Manchester City lose in EPL humiliation
Arsenal inched clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday after Manchester United sensationally crashed at home to West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City lost at Aston Villa.
Mignolet's degree of talent shining through
Chris Bascombe Having recently completed a degree studying 20th-century socialism, one might imagine Simon Mignolet joining in the applause at the demise of the politically provocative Paolo Di Canio, a self-declared fascist, at his former club Sunderland.
Wanderers out to avoid sophomore slump
DAVID SYGALL After finishing their inaugural season riding a tidal wave of form and popularity that made them the best story in Australian sport, the challenge for Western Sydney Wanderers is to build on their solid base and avoid second-season syndrome.
Fernando Torres sees red as Chelsea hold on for draw against Tottenham
The first managerial meeting between former colleagues Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas ended in stalemate on Saturday as Chelsea drew 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Portuguese men at war: Spurs coach lifts lid on Mourinho rift
Jim White Andre Villas-Boas says former mentor Jose Mourinho tried to block his progress as a coach and that they have not spoken in four years.
SBS awaits decision on timing of World Cup
DAVID SYGALL Australia's World Cup broadcast rights holder, SBS, says it has not yet held negotiations with FIFA over possible compensation if the schedule for the 2022 tournament is changed.
Suarez draws inspiration from Rooney
Mark Ogden Luis Suarez had only to look at the man wearing the Manchester United captain's armband to realise his road to redemption at Liverpool could be anything but long and winding.
Manchester United beat Liverpool in League Cup
Steven Griffiths Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez ruined Luis Suarez's long-awaited return from suspension as the Mexican clinched a 1-0 win against Liverpool in the League Cup third round on Wednesday.
The Leckie country: in-form forward in mix for Socceroos after goal spree
Ben Coonan Having struck a rich vein of goal-scoring form in Germany, young gun Mathew Leckie hopes to get the chance to repeat the dose for the Socceroos.
Manchester United manager David Moyes ready for the school of hard knocks
Henry Winter David Moyes believes Manchester United may suffer more defeats like the 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City and that he will continue "to take the punches" as he changes a team in "transition". United's manager reiterated the need for "one or two" new players "to go right into the team".
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez set for return against Manchester United
Fans will welcome back Suarez but there is sure to be more trouble ahead, writes Chris Bascombe
Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur breeze through League Cup ties
Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur breezed into the League Cup fourth round on Tuesday, while Sunderland began life without Paolo Di Canio by beating Peterborough United.
Questions on his future are 'out of order', says Osieck
DAVID SYGALL Questions about his future as Socceroos coach have been rebuked by Holger Osieck as ''a little bit out of order'', despite the national team's slide down the international rankings and recent heavy defeat to Brazil.
