Deco aiming to put Chelsea back on top

Deco arrived at Chelsea from Barcelona, for a fee of around £7million, on Monday night and instantly declared that he can help the Blues become the best team in the Premier League and in Europe.




Pick a possible caption...

Premier League Unveils New Ball

The Premier League has revealed that it will be using the ‘Nike Total 90 Omni Ball’ for the 2008/09 season, with the manufacturer claiming it to be the ‘most consistent ball ever’.

Americans Abroad: Injury Cloud To Rain On Simek Deal?

Aston Villa may want to wait until January before following up their interest in injured Sheffield Wednesday defender Frank Simek…

David Dein's warning to Arsenal: Take Usmanov's money or slip out of top four

Arsenal's board were warned yesterday that they risked slipping out of the Champions League positions unless they sold up to Alisher Usmanov, the Uzbekistani multi-billionaire who owns 24.9 per cent of the club.

Over a long breakfast at Uefa's gleaming hotel in Vienna yesterday, Dein talked openly about everyone from Arsene Wenger to Cesc Fabregas, Jose Mourinho to Luiz Felipe Scolari. Smitten by the Euro 2008 bug, Dein enthused about Russian strikers and Uefa's throwing of a "faultless" party for footballers and supporters.

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Monday's Rumours

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Tim Vickery in South America

While Europe has been concentrating on the international game, South America now builds towards the biggest match in its club calendar - Wednesday's second leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores.

Euro 2008: A Look Back

BBC Pundits on the Final
Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer and Martin O'Neill

Paul Wilson:
Invisible referees make it a tournament to remember

Biggest disappointment: Ronaldo
Specifically, his failure to flop, as everyone deep down hoped he would. But he still didn't shine - and failed to disprove the idea that he's a big-game bottler. Perhaps he found it hard to concentrate...The Observer's Sport team assess Euro 2008's best and worst.

Norman Hubbard's Team of the Tournament

Xavi Awarded Euro 2008 Accolade + Team of the Tournament

Spain midfielder Xavi has been named the best player of Euro 2008.

Euro 2008 team of the tournament:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands).

Defenders: Bosingwa (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Carlos Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Carles Puyol (Spain), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfielders: Hamit Altintop (Turkey), Luka Modric (Croatia), Marcos Senna (Spain), Xavi Hernández (Spain), Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain).

Euro 2008 Final: Germany 0 - 1 Spain

Kevin McCarra:
Torres delivers finishing touch to make Spain kings of Europe

Richard Jolly:
Spain's victory a vindication of their ideals

Richard Williams:
Spain reign with beautiful game for the purists


Low admits Spain deserves victory



Lehmann lays into 'biased' referee following Germany defeat
'The referee didn't really fancy us Germans,' claims beaten goalkeeper

German Media: Spain deserved it

Henry Winter: Spain's long wait finally over

Euro 2008 Final: Germany vs. Spain

And so only the final awaits. I must say, this has been the most enjoyable tournament in recent memory. The willingness of many teams to play open, flowing football has been a joy to watch. Mind you, I can't wait for club football to return, but this has been a better than expected diversion.

What: European Championships Final
Who: Spain v Germany
When: 20:45 CET - Sunday, June 29
Where: Ernst Happel, Vienna
U.S. TV: 2:45pm EDT, ABC
BBC Preview (yet to be posted)

Incalculable Spain pose problems for Germany

Tactical Preview

Fabregas to start with Villa sidelined

Lehmann aims to prove Wenger wrong

The Joy of Six: Great International Tournaments

From Hand of God to Battle of Berne via some Zizou wizardry and a Czech chip, half a dozen tourneys to savour.

Cantona hits out at Les Bleus over 'boring' style

'What I see from the France team is everything I hate in football,' said the former Leeds and Manchester United forward.




Cantona: Never accused of being boring...

Euro 2008 Winter's Word: How many German players would get in Spain's starting XI?

One very simple way to wind up German fans is to avoid nodding your head vigorously when they start extolling the virtues of the Deutsche Mannschaft.

Big move awaits for star performers

With the tournament now drawing to a close, a host of Europe's top clubs will begin work trying to recruit some of the stars of Euro 2008. Already there have been a number of contracts signed before the tournament, including the £16.5million sale of Croatian star Luka Modric to Tottenham; but Euro 2008 has also unearthed a number of gems who will be keen to use their performances over the past month as a springboard to better things.




As the start of the new season draws ever closer, here are a number of names expected to cash in on the attention they have received and move on this summer.

Adebayor: I'm staying at Arsenal next season

The 24-year-old Togo striker has been linked with a move to AC Milan with Barcelona also interested following two-and-a-half years in London.

Marcela Mora y Araujo in South America

LDU, from the Andean city of Quito, are one game from winning the Copa Libertadores.

Ecuador's high-altitude unknows dream of reaching summit

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Friday's Rumours


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English Lion Cubs: Six To Watch In 2008-09

Amid the influx of overseas players in the English Premier League, some promising homegrown talent still manages to flourish. Matthew Wheatley identifies six young Englishmen who could make a big impact next season...

1966 & 1974 World Cups Were Fixed - Former FIFA President

Former FIFA President Joao Havelange has made some quite sensational, and potentially damaging, allegations by claiming that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed so that England and Germany would win respectively.

Euro 2008 Semi Final: Spain 3 - 0 Russia

Fabregas proves the inspiration

Richard Williams:
Fábregas and co give Arshavin a lesson in Catalan craft

Paul Doyle:
While Andrei Arshavin disappointed, Cesc Fabregas set Spain alight in an unfamiliar second-striker role

Phil McNulty:
Fabregas can inspire Spain to final glory

BBC Report

Italy show Donadoni the door

Lippi waiting in the wings





Pack your bags, son...

Euro 2008 Semi-Final: Spain vs. Russia

What: European Championships Semi Final
Who: Russia v Spain
When: 20:45 CET - Thursday, June 26, 2008
Where: Ernst Happel, Vienna
U.S. TV: 2:45pm EDT, ESPN2
Preview

Richard Williams:
Arshavin can emulate Platini as the tournament's star

Martin Rogers:
Hiddink is a miracle worker

Kevin McCarra:
Hiddink says Russia are once bitten and twice shy of Spain's traps


This photo doesn't relate to the post but it's so odd that I had to fit it in somewhere...

Euro 2008 Semi Final: Turkey 2 - 3 Germany

Last-gasp Lahm slams the door on bold Turkey

Paul Doyle:
Brave Turkey finally downed by luck and Lahm

Martin Rogers:
Germany more lucky than good

Low takes the plaudits for turning Germany around





A thunderstorm that cut power supplies interrupted coverage for millions of television viewers watching Germany's thrilling 3-2 semi-final win over Turkey at Euro 2008 on Wednesday.
Storm deprives TV viewers of semi-final drama
"The most annoying balls-up imaginable"

Fun With The Sun

Wayne and Wife hit Vegas on their Honeymoon.

And Wayne smokes a fag...


Meanwhile, Christian Wilhelmsson's (of Sweden and Deportivo La Coruna) wife Oksanna Andersson goes topless on Miami Beach. (WARNING! OPEN AT YOUR OWN RISK! NASTY FAKE BOOB PICTURE!)

Euro 2008 Semi-Final: Germany vs. Turkey

What: Euro 2008 Semi-Final 1
Who: Germany (2nd, Group B) vs Turkey (2nd, Group A)
When: Wednesday 25 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Where: St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
U.S. TV: 2:45pm EDT, ESPN

Preview

Will Turkey's luck finally run out?

Keys to Victory

Adrenaline-fuelled Turks sense greatness in their grasp

BBC Preview

The burden of Michael Ballack

Euro 2008 Winter's Word: Bayern Munich's southern star shining brightly

The fortunes of Bayern players have long fascinated me, ever since I spent a term attempting to learn German at a Munich school inbetween watching Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner lighting up the Olympic Stadium.

Spain Didn't Do Better Than Us - Aquilani

Italian international midfielder Alberto Aquilani looked on his experience with the Azzurri at Euro 2008.

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Wednesday's Rumours

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Euro 2008 Debate: Day Eighteen - Tops And Flops

As we approach the final three games contested between the final four teams, Goal.com's Sulmaan Ahmad runs through the tops and flops of each nation at Euro 2008...



Not hot: Cristoph Metzelder and Per Mertesacker

Marcela Mora y Araujo in Argentina

The combative former Argentina midfielder has swiftly shown a flair for management at three very different clubs.

Simeone guides River Plate from turmoil to title.

Jonathan Wilson: Russia revels in the flair that has wowed Europe

Victory over Holland at Euro 2008 sparked unprecedented celebrations at home, as much for its style as the result.





The best of Russian style...

Quotes of the Week

"The layout of the hotel was all wrong. It was in a kind of cul-de-sac with only one route in and out. Plus, there were no proper directives from the Swiss about gatherings of people watching us eat."
Domenech pinpoints the real reason for the French failure.

"Uefa have brought in the very best of Dutch grass....I mean turf."
ITV correspondent on the relaid turf for the Euro quarter-finals. No wonder the guys at Uefa always seem to make nonsensical decisions!

The best Dutch grass...


"I was disappointed Mexico didn't qualify for Euro 2008."
Mexico's WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio shows off his extensive football knowledge on Sky.

All the Fun

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Tuesday's Rumours

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Kevin McCarra: England have nothing to match the dash of Arshavin and Villa

Few English players would have been good enough to enhance Euro 2008.

Richard Williams Column

Scolari risks making enemies with his advice to Ronaldo






Ready to fit right in at Chelsea...

Some Fresh Oranjes - A Look At New Dutch Talent

The Dutch may have crashed out to Russia in Euro 2008, but they will no doubt come back refreshed for the 2010 World Cup with a host of new talent at their disposal. Matthew Wheatley looks at some of the big names coming through...

Phil Ball in Spain

'Dios mio!', as they say here. I didn't half enjoy Sunday night's game. After 18 years of living, breathing and eating Spanish football, I was beginning to get a little tired of the old clichés: Spain the underachievers, Spain the eternal bottlers, Don Quixote revisited and all the rest.

Report: Totti & Nesta To Make Italy Return

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta will end their international retirements and return to the Azzurri set-up as part of Marcello Lippi’s 2010 World Cup team.





Almost as hot as Grieco and Depp...

Nash, soccer star Henry among players in charity soccer match

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash will be doing some drafting of his own on the eve of the NBA draft, calling in some big names from his two favorite sports for a first of its kind charity game. Baron Davis, Jason Kidd and international soccer star Thierry Henry have committed to join Nash and longtime U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna for a charity soccer match at 5:30 p.m. on June 25 at Nike Field on Chyrstie Street in Chinatown. The match is open to the public.

Please vacate the park...

Ernst Bouwes in Holland

Dutch depart with a whimper...

Sid Lowe in Spain

'Those Italians are not giants but windmills' - the Spanish press couldn't be more excited now that the national team have finally exorcised their demons.

U.S. grinds out drab win against Barbados

Barbados 0 - 1 U.S.A
Chances are that about 15 months from now, the U.S. will be celebrating its qualification to the 2010 World Cup. When that day comes, Sunday's 1-0 win over Barbados -- one in which the U.S. prevailed 9-0 on aggregate in their World Cup qualifying series -- will be largely forgotten. Thank goodness, because this was an unimpressive performance that induced a near-terminal case of boredom.

Basel police make 50 arrests after Dutch defeat

Officials estimated that up to 500,000 litres of beer had been consumed, not including any which supporters had brought with them.

Alan Hansen: Holland and Portugal no match for Germany's winning mentality

Anyone who was at Innsbruck watching the Russians being taken apart by Spain in their opening group game would have advised them to start booking an early flight back to Moscow. But tournament football does not work like that. Holland and Portugal set Euro 2008 alight with some fabulous football which, when it came to booking a place in the semi-finals, proved no help at all.

Pele robbed at gunpoint in Brazil

Three-time World Cup winner Pele was the victim of a daylight robbery when he was accosted at gunpoint by a gang of youths in Brazil, according to reports in Sao Paulo last night.

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Ince given coach licence backing

Ince, who was appointed on a three-year deal on Sunday, will be the first black English manager in the Premier League.

Tim Vickery in South America

It doesn't matter where the likes of Gilberto Silva and Mineiro play their club football. What does matter is that they form the most limited, laboured, unimaginative and inept central midfield that this writer has ever seen play in a Brazil shirt.

"A chasm exists between the Brazilian public and European-based stars"

Euro 2008: Weekend Reports

Spain 0 - 0 Italy (4-2)
Spaniards break shootout jinx
Richard Williams: The hapless Luca Toni is the latest in a long line of ineffective Italian forwards
Spain resolve delights Aragones


Netherlands 1 - 3 Russia
Russia take Huddink's stock yet higher
Arshavin at the zenith at his powers
Dutch fans left counting the cost


Croatia 1 - 1 Turkey (1-3)
Late bloomers Turkey win it at the last -- again
Terim rejoices in Turkey victory