Grant Wahl: In Angola, a volatile mix of soccer and politics

I've seen plenty of examples over the years when sports and politics mix, when the world's most popular pastime and the pursuit of power combine to turn fútbol into anything but the simplest game. But I haven't ever been in the middle of such a palpably tense situation like this one in Cabinda, a complex landscape mixing soccer and politics, fear and violence, nationalism and rebellion.

There's a lot more than just soccer going on here.

Carlisle: Dempsey not out, but U.S. down

Outside of the fact that Dempsey will not be going under the knife -- which no doubt is a positive development -- Fulham's release is so vague as to offer little in the way of additional comfort.

U.S. Men's International Friendly:
Saturday U.S. vs. Honduras Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Premier League Heroes: Juninho

With his jinking runs and mesmeric turns, Juninho consistently gave Premier League defenders nightmares during three spells at Middlesbrough, adding a touch of Brazilian samba style to one of English football's traditionally unglamorous outfits.

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Friday's Rumours



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The Joy of Six: Counter-Attacking Goals

From Terry McDermott's Scouse sonata to a Nigel Jemson gem, here are half a dozen blistering breakaways.

Freddy Adu Eagerly Anticipating Aris Thessaloniki Debut

The 20-year-old could make his full debut against Panathanaikos this weekend and Adu can hardly wait.

England: Premier League and FA Cup Previews & Predictions

Only one match in the EPL this weekend as Manchester United host Hull City. Rio is expected to make his long-awaited return. Preview is here.

Meanwhile, it's primarily an FA Cup weekend with Villa switching Cup duties to face Brighton, Chelsea traveling to Preston North End, Arsenal going to Stoke, Tottenham facing Leeds and Everton hosting Birmingham among other fixtures. Full weekend preview is here.

Lawro's Predictions

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview

Reigning champions Barca will be in buoyant mood for their trip to fourth-bottom Real Valladolid following yesterday's news that sextuple-winning coach Pep Guardiola has committed himself to the club for next season. Madrid are in action on Sunday, along with Sporting Gijon-Racing Santander, Tenerife-Valencia, Villarreal-Real Zaragoza and Espanyol-Real Mallorca.

Preview

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview

Bremen host Bayern, Hoffenheim visit Leverkusen, and Dortmund face off against Hamburg in this weekend’s action.

Friday
Freiburg – Stuttgart

Saturday
Hertha Berlin – Borussia M’gladbach
Mainz – Hannover
Nuernberg – Eintracht Frankfurt
Bochum – Schalke
Werder Bremen – Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund – Hamburg

Sunday
Wolfsburg – Koeln
Hoffenheim – Bayer Leverkusen

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

AC Milan coach Leonardo believes Sunday night's Milan derby could not have come at a better time for his side.

Roma and Juventus will both be rooting for Milan. They clash 24 hours earlier in Turin with third place up for grabs.

The Turin outfit are two points behind Roma and desperate to return to winning ways having lost four of their last five games.

Preview

Italian Serie A Preview: Internazionale Milan vs. AC Milan

When: Sunday, January 24, 2010, 2:45 EST.
Where: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
U.S. TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Preview

Inter - Milan Best 11

Top 5 Games of the Past

Top 10 Things to Expect (Satirical)

African Nations Cup: Review Of Round Three

The pairings have already set up some truly interesting match-ups
with Egypt against Cameroon the most interesting of all, a replay of the final at Ghana 2008. World Cup-bound Ivory Coast and Algeria will take on each other, while hosts Angola will entertain last time's hosts Ghana. Nigeria will play surprise Group D winners Zambia for the first time in the tournament since their 1994 final which Nigeria won 2-1.

The Big Interview: Alberto Aquilani

Injury has ruined the Italian's first season at Anfield first season but he is back and so are Liverpool.

George Best is Drunk on TV

Which is bad, of course, but is the green suit worse...?

Tevez slams ''sock-sucker'' Neville

In another interview, broadcast on ESPN Radio in Argentina, Carlos Tevez has again lashed out at Gary Neville, calling him a ''sock-sucker'' and branding him a ''moron'' for his lack of respect in his pre-match comments about the striker ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final.

From Los Angeles To Birmingham, Brad Guzan Eyes Glory For Aston Villa And The USA

Bradley Edwin Guzan – that’s Brad Guzan to the rest of us – is making his mark for Aston Villa this season and last night helped his team book a trip to Wembley in a thrilling League Cup semi-final second-leg encounter.

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Thursday's Rumours



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ACN: Thursday's Previews

Cameroon vs. Tunisia:
Indomitable Lions must win the game to guarantee progress



Gabon vs. Zambia:
Zambia eye last eight berth

ACN: Wednesday's Reports

Egypt 2-0 Benin:
The Pharaohs Finish Group Stage With Perfect Record


Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique:
Super Eagles Tame Mambas For A Comfortable Win

England: Wednesday's Premier League Reports, Analysis, Tabletop

Arsenal 4 - 2 Bolton Wanderers

Dominic Fifield:
Arshavin takes Arsenal top after fightback
Oliver Kay:
Rosicky inspires amazing comeback
Paul Hayward:
16 games for Arsenal's nerve to hold




Liverpool 2 - 0 Tottenham

Richard Jolly:
Determined Liverpool show signs of revival
Andy Hunter:
Kuyt scores twice to sink Spurs
Harry Harris:
Anfield remains epicentre of surprises
Phil McNulty:
Have Spurs got nerve for top four?

Overall							Home						Away
RK		TEAM	P	W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		W	D	L	GS	GA		GD	Pts
1		Arsenal	22	15	3	4	59	25		9	1	1	34	11		6	2	3	25	14		34	48
2		Chelsea	21	15	3	3	52	18		10	1	0	34	8		5	2	3	18	10		34	48
3		Manchester United	22	15	2	5	49	19		9	1	1	27	8		6	1	4	22	11		30	47
4		Tottenham Hotspur	22	11	5	6	42	24		7	1	3	26	8		4	4	3	16	16		18	38
5		Manchester City	21	10	8	3	42	30		7	3	0	26	14		3	5	3	16	16		12	38
6		Liverpool	22	11	4	7	40	26		7	2	2	28	11		4	2	5	12	15		14	37
7		Aston Villa	21	10	6	5	29	18		6	3	2	17	7		4	3	3	12	11		11	36
8		Birmingham	21	9	6	6	21	19		5	4	2	9	6		4	2	4	12	13		2	33
9		Fulham	21	7	6	8	26	24		6	2	2	15	6		1	4	6	11	18		2	27
10		Everton	21	6	8	7	30	34		4	5	2	16	15		2	3	5	14	19		-4	26