International Friendly Reports & Analyses: Slovenia 2 - 3 United States

It took nearly four months in real time and more than nine hours of action, but finally the Jurgen Klinsmann that United States fans have been waiting for stood up to be counted. The coach’s first six games in charge of Team USA were a far cry from the adventurous, aggressive approach he favored with the national team of his German homeland, and concerns began to grow as a barren spell of scoring turned into a full-fledged drought. However, a 3-2 friendly victory over Slovenia on Tuesday could represent a significant turning point for Klinsmann and his new era, coming, as it did, courtesy of a far more positive game plan.

Grant Wahl: Three Thoughts

U.S. Offense Awakens

Player Ratings

Euro 2012: The Qualifying Teams - In Pictures

The Guardian analyses the 16 teams who will be heading to Poland and Ukraine next summer to compete in Euro 2012.

UEFA 2012 European Championship Qualifying: Second Leg Review, Reports & Analyses

Ireland eased to the European Championships for the first time since 1988 by beating Estonia 5-1 on aggregate, after a 1-1 draw in Dublin. Cristiano Ronaldo and Helder Postiga both scored twice as Portugal reached the finals with a 6-2 win over Bosnia but the scoreline did little justice to the drama at Lisbon's Stadium Of Light. Croatia also cruised into next year's finals after playing out a 0-0 draw against Turkey in Zagreb four days after their decisive 3-0 first-leg win in Istanbul. Czech Republic ensured their place after a narrow 1-0 win proved to be enough against Montenegro.

Review

Ireland 1 - 1 Estonia (5-1 agg.)
Kevin Palmer: Joyous Ireland earn craic at Euros
Michael Cox: Defensive, and no reason to change

Croatia 0 - 0 Turkey (3-0 agg.)
Report

Montenegro 0 - 1 Czech Republic (0-3 agg.)
Report

Portugal 6 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina (6-2 agg.)
Report

Strongest Possible Lineup for Euro 2012 Finals

An Owl Eats a Rat on the Crossbar in the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia

UEFA 2012 European Championship Qualifying: Second Leg Previews

Portugal vs. Bosnia
Preview
Jonathan Wilson: Bosnia aim to get it pitch perfect against Portugal
Andy Brassell: Duo ready for grand finale

Croatia vs. Turkey
Preview
Jon Carter: Turkey facing colossal task

Ireland vs. Estonia
Preview

Montenegro vs. Czech Republic
Preview

International Friendly Previews: Slovenia vs. United States

Who:
Slovenia vs. United States

When:
12pm EST

Where:
Petrol Arena, Celje, Slovenia

U.S. TV:
ESPN2, ESPN3.com, Galavisión

Preview
Grant Wahl's Take


Yup. That's their national stadium...

Poland and Ukraine lose momentum with issues over shirts and injuries

A nation's preparations for a major tournament can be derailed by many things: player unrest, poor results, political upheaval, to name the most likely. But as Poland moves ever closer to its defining moment of modern times – co-hosting Euro 2012 with Ukraine – its people appear to have stumbled on a new way to throw plans off-track.

With seven months to go before their homeland becomes the centre of Europe's sporting universe Poland supporters are raging at the decision of their football association, the PZPN, to remove the white eagle – the country's oldest national symbol – from the team's kit in favour of its own logo, a less than inspiring red and yellow squiggle.

The Trawler: Fleetwood whack, Cracking Barnett

Welcome to an FA Cup first round special edition of The Trawler, your weekly submersion through the teeming waters of life in the Championship, League One and League Two. You might be surprised what you find down there.

Five things we learned from International Football this weekend

Luis Suárez responds well to criticism, the future's bright for Wales and Carl Cort has escaped the curse of the quiz question.

FA delayed by language confusion in Evra-Suárez racism case

Patrice Evra has been informed that he may have difficulty proving he was the victim of racial abuse from Luis Suárez, because of a counter-argument that certain variations of the N-word are not deemed offensive where the Liverpool player grew up, in Uruguay. "Negrito", for example, could have shocking connotations for someone without full knowledge of the nuances of the language. But the counter-argument is that this is one of several derivations that are used in many countries, with no derogatory meaning – often in the same way someone could be called "pal" or "mate".

Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasts Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola in new autobiography

Sweden and Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals depth of hostility between him and Barcelona coach pep Guardiola in controversial autobiography 'I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic'.

UEFA 2012 European Championship Qualifying: First Leg Review

Croatia all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey 3-0 in the first leg of their play-off at the Ataturk Stadium.

A late header from Tomas Sivok saw the Czech Republic put one foot in the finals with a 2-0 victory over Montenegro.

Captain Robbie Keane claimed a double as the Republic of Ireland took a stranglehold on their play-off with a 4-0 win against nine-man Estonia.

Bosnia-Herzegovina failed to make the most of home advantage as they played out a dire goalless draw with Portugal in Zenica.

Review

International Friendly Reports & Analyses: France 1 - 0 United States

The United States remains at a loss for offense under Jurgen Klinsmann. Loic Remy outmuscled defender Clarence Goodson to score in the 72nd minute, giving France a 1-0 exhibition victory Friday night that dropped the Americans to 1-4-1 since Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley as coach in late July. “It could have been a draw,” said goalkeeper Tim Howard, the best American player on the field. “They played really well, and they probably had better chances then we did.” Under Klinsmann, the former German national team star and coach, the Americans have been outscored 5-2 and shut out four times.

Grant Wahl: Three Thoughts

Jurgen Klinsmann's USA is capable of being hard to beat, but is the talent there to build a winner?

Player Ratings

International Friendly Reports & Analyses: England 1 - 0 Spain

Phil Ball: Wembley Sunset
If England woke up happy on Sunday, then fine. After 20 years over here, I'm past caring about English hubris. The strains of Match of the Day still move me, but if the absence of Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere means that England cannot, at the very least, have a go, then I don't see the point. Maybe Capello is preparing for a catenaccio approach to this summer's Euro tournament, and if so, then it has to be admitted that England's defence played well.


Richard Williams: Scott Parker's shield protects England against Spain's infiltrators
Yes, it was only a friendly. No, Spain are not unbeatable in such circumstances, as Argentina, Portugal and Italy have proved since the World Cup (and they are not bad company for England to be among). Certainly, Vicente del Bosque would have left Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas on the pitch for the second half had there been something significant at stake, and the visitors' overall intensity might have been a few percentage points higher. But thanks to a display of pragmatism and wholehearted effort, England at least took the opportunity to raise their morale by a notch or two.

Silence Exists: Sweeping Racism Under the Carpet

If you think the John Terry and Anton Ferdinand affair is dragging on a bit, spare a thought for Trevor Benjamin. On 25 September 2010 Benjamin was called “a black fucking cunt” by an opposition player while playing for Morpeth Town against Darlington Railway Athletic and has only found out the outcome of his complaint to the local FA in November 2011.

International Friendly Previews: France vs. United States

Who: France vs. United States
Where: Stade de France, Paris, France
When: 3pm EST
U.S. TV: ESPN2, Univision
Preview

Grant Wahl: U.S. faces big test
Ben Lyttleton: Blanc to experiment against U.S.

Five Matchups Worth Watching

The Joy of Six: Football First Touches

Only geniuses need apply as we pay tribute to six men with velvet and velcro in their boots.

Bosnia fans shine lasers in Ronaldo’s eyes, Ronaldo gives the finger

During a Portugal training session, they aimed their lasers at his eyes from perches on surrounding buildings and instead of ignoring it, he responded by giving them the finger.

UEFA 2012 European Championship Qualifying: First Leg Previews

Eight teams will look to edge closer to booking their place at next summer's European Championships on Friday in the first leg of their play-offs.







Bosnia vs. Portugal
Preview
Matchpack

Turkey vs. Croatia
Preview
Amy Lawrence: Proud Croatia continue to fly the flag

Estonia vs. Ireland
Preview
Ireland face Estonia banana skin
Keane desperate to end heartache
Key Battles

Czech Republic vs. Montenegro
Preview
Matchpack

Jonathan Wilson's Previews

Martin Rogers: Soccer career of Gadhafi’s son Al-Saadi over

The remarkable images that emerged from the revolution in Libya last month, as despotic leader Moammar Gadhafi was hunted down and executed, appeared to have nothing whatsoever to do with sports. Yet as Gadhafi’s long and brutal regime came crashing down and his life was brought to a violent end, a former professional soccer player in one of the world’s top leagues suddenly became one of the most wanted men on the planet. The man in question is Gadhafi’s third son, Al-Saadi, who used his father’s political influence to gain contracts at three teams in Italy’s Serie A – Perugia, Udinese and Sampdoria – while also training with Lazio and Juventus.

Romario vows to investigate FIFA irregularities

Former star striker Romario is pledging to step up his efforts in Brazil’s parliament to shed light on alleged irregularities involving FIFA and Brazilian football federation president Ricardo Teixeira.

Romario, now a congressman, said he is teaming up with other Brazilian legislators to investigate football’s governing body ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Jonathan Wilson: Susic's Bosnic squad a unifying force among old divisions

The smell of wood smoke hangs pungent in the early morning mist. As the cafe owners set up for the day, and old men, huddled against the cold, begin another session of backgammon in the courtyard of the mosque, the call of the muezzin echoes through the cobbled streets. On a corner on the square in front of the national library, a stall-holder sets out his wares. He has green Wolfsburg shirts, but today is not a day for club soccer. He slides hangers through the necks of two blue Bosnia shirts and hooks them over the rail that holds up the canopy over his stall. The back of each shirt is to the square so you can see the name and number. The left reads "Dzeko;" the right "Misimovic": Muslim and Serb side by side.

Ibrahimovic says Onyewu broke his rib in brawl

AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he broke a rib in a brawl with American defender Oguchi Onyewu that could have “ended badly” had they not been separated by teammates. In an autobiography sent to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Ibrahimovic says the two players “wanted to destroy each other” in the fight, which started after the hot-tempered Swede launched a dangerous tackle on Onyewu during a training session with Milan on Nov. 5 last year.

Sid Lowe: Ronaldo wins the Golden Boot, but Messi comparisons raised yet again

They'd make quite a five-a-side team. The only question is which one of them would draw the short straw and be forced to play in goal. A Friday afternoon at the Intercontinental Hotel in Madrid and the ESM group was presenting the Golden Boot to Cristiano Ronaldo as the continent's top scorer in 2010-2011. Alongside him on the stage sat Alfredo di Stéfano, the man many Spaniards consider the greatest player of all time, and Eusebio. In the front row, Zinedine Zidane and a couple of rows back Paulo Futre.

All of them are winners of the Balón d'Or. And, although it was the Golden Boot that was being presented, everyone seemed obsessed with the Golden Ball. In their obsession they once again revealed much of what is wrong with soccer -- the twisted logic and not-so-hidden agendas. Time and again, they went back to the Balón d'Or, which is a roundabout way of saying that time and again they went back to Leo Messi. It was Ronaldo's big day but Messi was there too. He always is.

The Big Interview: Bobby Zamora

At first glance it is an audition, plain and simple. A chance to nudge the management into recognising underlying qualities and earn the right to stand in for a high-profile absentee.

Impress at a heaving Wembley and the prospects of travelling to next summer's European Championship will be enhanced.

The only problem facing Bobby Zamora is the calibre of opposition against which he is about to be tested.

"There aren't any better out there than the Spanish," he says with a rueful smile. "Just getting a touch would be nice."

Competition to find football's worst toilets hit by vote-rigging claim

A competition to establish which English football ground has the worst toilets was temporarily suspended over allegations of vote-rigging.

The Biggest Loosers competition was put on hold after it emerged that some fans had voted up to 30 times in an effort to secure the prize – a £100,000 toilet makeover – for their club.

St James' Park to be rebranded as the Sports Direct Arena

Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley, faces a potential backlash from supporters after the announcement that St James' Park is to be rebranded as the Sports Direct Arena as part of the club's plan to sell the naming rights to the stadium.

In a move which ends 119 years of history, Ashley has temporarily renamed the ground after his company – at no financial benefit to Newcastle – and invited external backers to purchase the rights.

It's a classy joint...

David Conn: Newcastle stadium name-change lacks class and is unworthy of history

Roberto Gotta in Italy

The butcher did it. The butcher, as yet unnamed.

The friend we all have, the fellow whose uncanny instincts always lead him to the best holiday resort, the best car, the places where you will "eat splendidly and barely spend any money". The guy who tells you over your morning coffee what's wrong with the economy. The know-it-all with the fat wallet who sits in the stands during a soccer match and pretends to spot your side's strengths and weaknesses by glancing at pre-game warm-ups.

Sinisa Mihajlovic, who was sacked by Fiorentina on Monday night following a 1-0 defeat at Chievo at the weekend, knows all about the butcher's sinister, dark power.

Tim Vickery in South America

With the schedule for the 2014 World Cup now announced, hosts Brazil know they will kick off the tournament in Sao Paulo at 17:00 local time on June 12. This much is certain. Of more interest is where they will be at 16:00 on July 13 - contesting the final in Rio's Maracana stadium, or drowning their sorrows elsewhere. At this point there is no lack of punters predicting the latter. Brazil have slipped behind the likes of Spain and Germany, and, some believe, even home advantage will not be enough to help the five times world champions recapture their missing mojo. Earlier this year, British football magazine Four Four Two even proclaimed the 'death of Brazil,' pointing out as part of its argument that the country's outstanding players are now often defenders.

Americans Abroad: Beasley, Gomez enjoy resurgent season in Mexico

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, Chievo Verona -- Started, played 90 minutes in Chievo's 1-0 victory over Fiorentina on Sunday. SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts

The Rest

You think Spain are good? Look who can't get a game...

The World champions have an incredible first XI but how strong is their back-up team? Pretty impressive, as England will find out at Wembley.

Carlos Tévez's ongoing controversy with Manchester City: Timeline

As Carlos Tévez defies Manchester City once again by returning to Argentina, Telegraph Sport tracks his ever-souring relationship with the club and Roberto Mancini since he refused to come off the bench in a Champions League fixture.

Surf's up in Argentina, brah...

Jürgen Klinsmann: Five Lessons for Team USA

After five games in charge, what lessons can Jürgen Klinsmann's USMNT take into friendlies against France and Slovenia.

If North Korea go out of the World Cup, will anyone hear them fall?

A trip to Pyongyang offered a rare insight into the highly unusual experience of watching a match in North Korea.

Mexico: De La Torre Explains Marquez Omission

Marquez, 32, was handed the ban and a $2,250 (£1,400) fine after he was sent off for kicking a ball at the Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan at the end of the two teams' tempestuous MLS play-off clash.

And De La Torre responded by leaving the former Barcelona defender - who has been sent off four times in international action, including against USA in one of his three World Cups in 2002 - out of his squad.

Uli Hesse in Germany

Even the most notorious nitpickers will have to admit that the Bundesliga sent its fans into the international break in style. The past weekend produced no less than 34 goals in the nine games, which is pretty good even for the most goal-hungry of the big European leagues. The last time so many goals graced a weekend, we were only a few days away from Christmas eve.

Sid Lowe in Spain

Pep Guardiola experienced a riotously enjoyable reunion with his mentor Marcelo Bielsa in Barcelona's draw with Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao make a splash to peg back Barcelona in thriller.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Even Flatliners' Kiefer Sutherland didn't manage to bring his mates back from the dead with such regularity.

Claudio Pizarro provides resuscitation for kamikaze Werder Bremen.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

Udinese and Lazio both manage to cash in, despite their key strikers failing to register for a change.

Udinese and Lazio make hay after Naples floods delay Juve's progress.

Yaya Touré says Manchester City's second team could beat most rivals

Yaya Touré believes that Manchester City's second XI would be good enough to qualify for the Champions League, as he articulated his confidence that the club could win major trophies this season and redefine people's perceptions about them. The Ivory Coast midfielder has started every game so far in the Premier and Champions leagues and he has contributed vital goals in the past week, scoring twice in last Wednesday's 3-0 win at Villarreal and getting the winner at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. The towering header maintained City's five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League while they are well placed to emerge from a difficult Champions League section.

Euro 2012 in race to get travel infrastructure ready for June kick-off

Fans travelling to Poland and Ukraine for next summer's European Championship could face travel chaos with major roadworks, train links and airport terminals months behind schedule and workers racing to get them completed in time for the tournament, which starts in Warsaw on 8 June.

Grant Wahl: Rise & Shine: Jay DeMerit's Story

One of the classic stories of U.S. soccer is set to appear in movie theaters across the nation on Thursday night. Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story, which is being shown in more than 125 theaters, retraces the inspiring journey of an MLS reject from Green Bay who goes to London and somehow rises from playing in pub leagues in city parks to competing in the English Premier League and shutting down Wayne Rooney in the 2010 World Cup.

If Jay DeMerit played football or basketball, his fable would be known by millions of Americans already. And now, thanks to the documentary, it still has that chance.

Steve Davis on MLS

Know your Major League Soccer --

Five things we learned from Sunday's conference finals:

Eduardo Alvarez in Spain

Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain started his first La Liga match for Real Madrid on a cold January evening in 2007 against Zaragoza. Back then he was just 19 years old and, despite his young age, huge expectations surrounded his arrival at the Bernabeu as €13 million appeared a big price tag for an unproven, virtually unknown striker.

Liverpool sign USA teen Pelosi

Pelosi, 17, who has played 28 times for the US Under-17s and scored eight goals and captained the side in this summer's youth-level World Cup in Mexico, has joined from De Anza Force in California.

The Fifth Official

Few of us like Monday but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.

Dominic Matteo Interview

Dominic Matteo lost a seven-figure gambling. He lifts the lid on the financial meltdown at Elland Road... and reveals he struggled to get a club car at Liverpool.

Dominic Matteo: Gambling away millions

EPL News

Both Ferdinand brothers are under threats this morning, one of violence through a sinister letter, the other of being thrown on to the scrapheap by Fergie. Meanwhile Smudger Smith begins to question AVB and Blackburn look set to be miss the important Christopher Samba. In North London however things are much more cheerful...

Are André-Villas Boas' Chelsea team fit for purpose?
Police look into Ferdinand 'death threat'
'Ferdinand not finished at United
Samba sidelined
Arteta at centre of Arsenal revival
I promise to stay at Arsenal forever!
Frantic finale tests Redknapp recovery

Bundesliga Wrap

Five-star Dortmund down Wolfsburg

Budesliga Round 12 Results

Serie A Wrap

Serie A Round 11 Results
Udinese and Lazio make hay after Naples floods delayJuve's progres
Udinese and Lazio go joint top
Montolivo apologises for conduct

Serie A Report Card

La Liga Wrap

Athletic Bilbao make a splash to peg back Barcelona in thriller
Ronaldo: Team is what matters

La Liga Round 11 Results: Betis held by Malaga as Sevilla draws again away from home

MLS Playoff Wrap

Another year, another weird MLS Cup format. This year we saw a 1 game play in then a second round of home and away then single game conference championships before a single championship match. Why is the second round 2 legs but the conference championships aren't? As always with MLS the answer is, "Because". It's no surprise to see Jewel of MLS playing for the title, though they have yet to claim one in the Beckham era- they spend a ton on their squad and generally in a much smarter way than the other mega-money team in MLS (I'm looking at you, New Jersey) and they've put up the results all year. Houston is a bit of a surprise at this stage but it wouldn't be MLS Cup without a representative of the Lightning-in-a-Bottle contingent. Of course due to the ongoing tediousness of the international fixture calendar both teams are faced with the prospect of sending off squad members to play in (mostly) meaningless friendlies and hoping that the players come back safe and sound before the big match in two weeks time.

Dynamo top Sporting Kansas City to reach MLS Cup finals
Galaxy earns spot in MLS title game with 3-1 win

Galaxy Stars off to International Duty

Premier League Wrap

Arsenal 3-0 West Brom
Newcastle 2-1 Everton
Aston Villa 3-2 Norwich
Tottenham 3-1 Fulham
Liverpool 0-0 Swansea
Bolton 5-0 Stoke
Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland
Wolves 3-1 Wigan
Man City 3-2 QPR
Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea

Team of the Week
Five Things We Learned
Chalkboard Analysis