Jonathan Wilson: Messi is an easy target for Argentina's collective failings

When the albiceleste underperform with Messi in the side, he's the one blamed. Against Colombia, they underperformed again.

Timmy Goes Camo: New Everton Keeper Kit

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Thursday's Rumours



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Gary Medel gives Gio Dos Santos a bad touch

udging by this clip, Chile's Gary Medel might have had money on the U.S. in the game or maybe he was just feeling grabby, because in Mexico's 2-1 loss to Chile in their Copa America opener, Medel decided to squeeze Gio's Dos Santos as they battled for the ball.

Copa America: Lionel Messi and Argentina players booed off pitch after stalemate with Colombia

Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates were booed off the pitch by supporters after being held to a 0-0 draw with Colombia in the Copa America group stages on Wednesday. Although Argentina did at least manage to avoid defeat to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals they are clearly in a hole after another terribly disjointed performance on the back of their previous draw with Bolivia.

FIFA Women's World Cup: Sweden 2 - 1 United States + QF Schedule

The warning signs had been there all along. They were evident in Cancun, Mexico, last November. They were there again in Chongqing, China, in January. They could be seen in London as recently as April. Each of those games ended in a 2-1 loss for the U.S. women's national soccer team — first to Mexico, then to Sweden, then to England. Each time the message was the same: American players, once regarded as virtually invincible, are invincible no more.

Grant Wahl: Three Thoughts

Quarterfinal Schedule (all times Eastern Daylight):

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. -- England vs. France (ESPN/ESPN3.com)
Saturday, 2:45 p.m. -- Germany vs. Japan (ESPN/ESPN3.com)
Sunday, 7:00 a.m. -- Sweden vs. Australia (ESPN/ESPN3.com)
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. -- Brazil vs. United States (ESPN/ESPN3.com)

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Despite match-fixing allegations against the club, the coach is focused on the tactics that could make Inter champions.

Inter's new coach Gian Piero Gasperini shrugs off Calciopoli scandal.

First XI: Fall From Grace

Following Argentine giants River Plate's recent relegation, First XI looks at teams that have ridden the painful rollercoaster of a fall from grace.

Dutch hurt in FC Twente stadium roof fall in Enschede

Part of a stadium roof has collapsed in the eastern Dutch city of Enschede, killing one person and injuring 13.

The collapse happened during building work at the FC Twente football stadium. The victims are thought to be construction workers.

Charlie Adam Passes Liverpool Medical

Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam is on the verge of completing his move to Liverpool after passing a medical at the club's Melwood training complex on Thursday. The Reds agreed a transfer fee, reported to be around £7 million, with Blackpool on Wednesday and Scotland international Adam is expected to agree personal terms within the next 24 hours.

Copa America Previews: Argentina vs. Colombia

The hosts will aim to perform well in front of their home crowd as they take on Colombia in the second round of games of Group A after earning just a point against Bolivia.

Preview I
Preview II

Jonathan Wilson: Copa America Thoughts

Argentina shows anxiety in opener, Chile impressive, more thoughts.

Georgina Turner: Selection dilemmas for Sundhage as U.S. prepares to face Sweden

Only a smattering of the most expensive seats remain unsold, which means there will be another horn-tooting queue of Volkswagens edging through Wolfsburg toward the stadium after work on Wednesday when the U.S. meets Sweden (Wednesday, 2:45 p.m. ET). The game will decide who tops Group C and in all probability (any permutation that begins "Equatorial Guinea must beat Brazil" looks doubtful) that means putting off any meeting with the Brazilians, who dazzled Wolfsburg at the weekend, until the final weekend of the tournament.

Steve Davis: U.S. program has reached a plateau

It all seemed so simple for U.S. soccer supporters in the 90s and into the next decade: the national team was marching inexorably forward. The boys in red, white and blue weren't "there" yet, but they were en route, speeding down the highway toward a bigger place in the global order.

But lately it seems more like the U.S. is sitting on the side of the road, stalled. Maybe even missing a tire, gazing backward to spot the next truck that might roll by with valuable replacement parts.

Adiós Carlos Tevez? Why no one will be crying for the Argentinian

The reaction at Manchester City to their captain's desire to leave is one of weary disdain and, in some quarters, open contempt.

Yesterday's Women's World Cup Action

Unlike the Copa America there are plenty of goals in this year's Women's World Cup. England found some form with two goals against Japan, including an exquisite opening goal, while the Germans marched ever onwards.

England 2-0 Japan
Germany beat France

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Wednesday's Rumours
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EPL Round Up

Slim pickings so far today in the EPL - we already knew that Savic and Gervinho were as good as signed by Manchester City and Arsenal, respectively. Likewise, that the Cesc transfer is complicated and that Sneijder would suit Man U [which club wouldn't he suit?]. A failed Downing bid and Newcastle's spending is scraping the barrel, but the day is young, so there's plenty of time for photos to surface of Fergie in bondage gear giving Gary Neville a deserved whipping.

Man City sign Savic on four-year deal
Good news at last for Arsenal after Gervinho deal
Fábregas frustrated over fee haggling
Liverpool fail in Downing bid
Sneijder would be 'perfect' for United
Newcastle defend use of £35m Carroll fee

Von Tranmere Nach Munchen

The transfer of the 18-year-old from Tranmere to Bayern Munich invites the question, how the hell did that happen?

Bavarian fairytale for Jennings From Tranmere to, er, Bayern Munich

Video Star Hargreaves Out To Prove Fitness

The Daily Mail front sport page describes Owen Hargreaves' You Tube videos showing his fitness as 'bizarre'. I don't really know why. Okay, they aren't the norm for a player of his standing, but neither is his situation. Some years back Hargreaves could claim to be England's best player [being brought up in Canada and Germany might help explain that]. He also stood out as probably the only England player able to string a coherent sentence together, who had interests beyond Playstation and bar fights and whose girlfriend didn't start the day bathing in mascara [his upbringing might again might play a role here]. Okay, he was also a touch boring [did I mention Canada and Germany?]. Unfortunately recent seasons have been destroyed by injuries to his knees, meaning he was released by ManU. Video proof of his fitness, though a touch left field, can hardly hinder his case. I'd have thought he'd be a good pick up on a pay-per-game deal for many clubs.

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Tuesday's Rumours
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Yesterday's Copa Action

Winning the Gold Cup didn't help Mexico much as they lost 2-1 against Chile, who are now only the second team to have won a game in this year's Copa America. The draws continued though, as Luis Suarez won his team a point against Peru. Sam Kelly looks at the success the smaller nations have enjoyed so far in the competition.

Minnows impress at the start of the Copa
Chile 2 Mexico 0
Uruguay rescue point against Peru

Every picture tells a story...

EPL Round Up

It seems to be all about talking today in the EPL. Carlos Tevez is talking to the press about leaving Man City. Haven't we heard that before? Modric is talking to Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy, Fabregas to manager Wenger [which says a bit about who holds the power at each club], both about how best to find the exit door. Likewise, Asamoah Gyan wants a natter with Brucie at Sunderland, while Palmero tell Chelsea to bid for Pastore. The most surprising chatterbox of the day is Paul Scholes. The redhead who normally wouldn't say boo to a goose, has decided to further endear himself to Man U fans by breaking his code of silence in order to put the boot into Arsenal.

Tévez stance revives City's Aguero interest
Scholes labels Arsenal 'pointless'
Modric heads for crunch talks with Spurs
Fábregas to meet Wenger as Arsenal exit draws closer
Palermo urge Chelsea to bid for Pastore
Gyan to hold Bruce talks

Samuel on the Gunners

There's perhaps been a surfeit of Arsenal articles on the blog recently, but when the top journo writes a piece on Gunners' present situation, I thought I'd squeeze in another one...

Face it, Arsenal can no longer attract a genuine superstar

New Rules Start to Bite

If proof were needed that Eufa's financial Fair Play regulations really are being taken seriously by England's leading clubs, the logjam of cast-offs, misfits and outcasts preparing to return to pre-season training this week says everything about the new reality dawning over the Premier League.

Fair Play leave clubs with unwanted players in a dormant market.
Fair-play rules mean we can't break the bank, admits Mancini

Dog of a Day at Copa

The most interesting thing that seems to have happened at the Copa America so far is a dog running on to the pitch during the Brazil game. Perhaps he could teach the players to avoid the post. The Guardian looks at why the two big teams have disappointed home supporters and bored the socks of everyone else.

Argentina and Brazil stutter out of the blocks
Paraguay delighted with Copa America draw
Brazil 0 Venezuela o
Colombia 1 Costa-Rica o

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Independence Day Rumours
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EPL Round Up

Slow news day today in the EPL, but with managers returning for pre-season training perhaps they'll realise the crap they've got to work with and head for the transfer market.

'No excuses' for Chelsea insists Di Matteo
City close in on Clichy
Arsenal expect Fábregas and Nasri back – but not for long
Wigan agree Al Habsi fee
West Ham vow action over stadium

Women's World Cup Scuttlebutt

Current Standings
In Germany, Women’s Team Is Winning Fans
Monica Ocampo's 30-yard effort earns Mexico draw against England
England striker Eniola Aluko affected by Twitter abuse
Ed: And to think we were worried that there was something Twitter couldn't ruin...

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The Rumor Mill
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Copa America Preview

It just doesn't stop, this footballing year in Argentina. Gimnasia played the second leg of their own relegation playoff on Thursday night, after which the domestic season ended, and you might think after Velez Sarsfield's title win, Martin Palermo's retirement at Boca Juniors, and River Plate's historic relegation, that the country would be looking forward to a nice break. Not a bit of it. Because Friday night sees the opening game of the 2011 Copa America.

Hosts out to break Brazil stranglehold

The five Premier League stars who can light up Copa America 2011

After much speculation, Sergio Batista will drop Angel Di Maria to the bench in favor of Carlos Tevez, who will join up with Lionel Messi and Napoli star Ezequiel Lavezzi in attack for the opening contest.
Argentina/Bolivia Preview

MLS Forecast: Trouble in the Fort

Three familiar words prompted the recent incident better known as Fortgate, but one emotion best sums up why the incident still rankles New England's hardcore fans: frustration.

Ed: I guess Bob Kraft didn't realize that when his paying customers were yelling "You Suck, Asshole!" they were actually directing it at the opposing keeper.

PSG Implement 5 Year Plan

PSG's new Qatari owners have implemented an ambitious 5 year plan with the aim of becoming a fully industrialized nuclear-armed global super power while continuing to supply much of Eastern Europe with grain. Oh wait, it's nothing that ambitious, they just want to qualify for the Champions League and win Ligue 1.

Arsenal Exodus

This isn't the way things were meant to pan out, not in the short term, not in the long term. Long term Arsenal were meant to move to a huge new stadium, sell the old one as flats for loads of cash, watch other debt-ridden clubs with rich benefactors suffer under new financial regulations, all the time supporting Wenger's philosophy of winning trophies with a young team. Well, they have a new stadium, but not one that's quite as big as they wanted. Short term, Gunners fans were looking forward to Wenger finally bringing in some top players. Instead, Arsenal look like losing three of their best players, while bringing in another guy from France who might do well and a youngster from Southampton.
In fairness, both plans may still work out well. The financial regulations could hit other clubs hard and Wenger could yet buy brilliantly in the coming weeks.
What is certain is that Arsenal have been poorly run over the past couple of years. A couple of weeks ago I was having a drink with two friends of my girlfriend, both big Gunner fans. I mentioned that I thought Arsenal's board were bunch of chumps, that losing Dein was a mistake and that the club may regret not going for Osmanov rather than Kroenke. One of them said I might have a point with Dein, but for the other points they thought I was crazy. Well, the board have let contracts run down but don't have enough money to hold on to players by bringing in top stars or increasing wages. Instead of concentrating on the club, the emphasis has been on bickering and bitching. Last week ex-board member Lady Bracewell Smith said the board should go - that would be the board you sold your shares to, right? If Kroenke doesn't get a grip of things, doesn't spend some money, how long until van Persie goes, or even Wenger?

Arsenal face player exodus
After Clichy now Man City go for Nasri
Gervinho 'chooses Arsenal' as Lille switch edges closer

EPL Round Up

Jol opens with win for Fulham, Spurs reopen interest in Rossi, Sunderland close in on O'Shea, Liverpool close door behind Sammy Lee and other snippets of juicy Premier League news...

Jol opens with comfortable Europa win
Spurs ready to rekindle interest in £35m Rossi after Barcelona drop out
Sunderland close in on O'Shea
Sammy Lee leaves Liverpool
Liverpool chief insists he won't be held to ransom over Downing and Adam
Newcastle to let Barton run down his contract

De Gea talks success, Gill talks bollocks

New Man Utd Keeper believes his club shouldn't be fazed by Champions League challenge, his chairman believes the club are being victimised, the world can't believe Fergie is now a doctor...

De Gea eyes European success
Gill slates FA for victimisation of United
Dr Fergie

Carson Yeung Gets Prison Blues

Since winning the Carling Cup things have just got better and better for Birmingham City fans. First their team was relegated and then their manager left for their city rivals. Now their chairman is under investigation for money laundering almost £60 million.
Yeung charged and bailed
No league sanctions yet for Yeung