SSN Exclusive: Danish Fans Invade Cyprus Ahead of Euro 2012 Qualifier

From L. Frost,
SSN's Nicosia-based correspondent

International Friendly Preview: USA - Honduras

Jurgen Klinsmann goes in search of his first win as U.S. national team boss when his side hosts Honduras in Florida on Saturday.

UEFA Euro 2012: Weekend Previews

The fight for the six remaining automatic berths and eight playoff places for Euro 2012 intensifies on Friday when the penultimate round of qualifying matches kicks off. Several teams are still in the chase for a guaranteed spot in Poland and Ukraine alongside the joint hosts and already-qualified world and European champions Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Germany.

A last chance to qualify



Montenegro vs. England: Preview
England to face weakened Montenegro
The Rise of Montenegro
Rooney relaxed and ready despite father's arrest
Kevin McCarra: Capello faces dilemma
Jonathan Wilson: Montenegro inspired by proud past

Group A: Preview
Turkey vs. Germany: Preview

Serbia vs. Italy: Preview
Fan violence a worry

Liechtenstein vs. Scotland: Preview

African Nations Cup Qualifying Preview

The scramble for Africa reaches its climax this weekend with the final round of African Nations Cup (ANC) qualifiers being played around the continent. Three of the 11 groups have already been decided and six countries have confirmed their participation in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year, leaving plenty of room for a final scrap as ten tickets wait to be claimed and 21 countries battle to secure them. Here is the definitive guide to last round of qualification fixtures.

Michael Bradley is back to focusing on football

The 24-year-old midfielder spoke with Goal.com about his move to Italy, his father joining Egypt, Jurgen Klinsmann and whether or not Serie A is in decline.

Friday MLS Forecast

The Forecast discusses the Whitecaps' 3-0 win over RSL and previews the truncated Week 30 slate.

Amy Lawrence: Robert Enke's life story should make us pause before we castigate

English football can learn lessons from the German reaction to the death of the international goalkeeper.

The writer Ronald Reng, who was a friend of Enke's and took on the task of accounting his story in the exceptional book A Life Too Short – The Tragedy of Robert Enke, has been taken aback by the reaction to this deeply personal memoir. The book became a bestseller in Germany straight away, and he cannot even begin to count how many people with depression wrote to him, and how many players and agents called him up to talk about issues so easily kept hidden that he had brought to the surface.

Michelle Obama hosts USWNT at White House

The family dog, Bo, was greeted with pats and hugs from the children and athletes as he made a brief appearance at the end of the clinic.

Grant Wahl: A committed Beckham enjoying by far his finest MLS season to date

There was a cool moment at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday night. In the second half of New York's 2-0 win against Los Angeles, David Beckham readied for a free kick near midfield by tossing the ball forward a couple yards. His old pal Thierry Henry noticed and pushed the ball back a few feet toward Beckham. Then Beckham got one of those sour, competitive looks on his face, the same look he probably flashed when he was eight years old.

The message was clear: the two biggest names in Major League Soccer still care, and judging by their performances this year Beckham and Henry are hardly treating MLS like a retirement home. Henry's 14 goals, tied for tops in the league, are the main reason New York still has a playoff pulse. As for Beckham, it's fair to say that he's somewhat quietly having his finest MLS season since joining the Galaxy in 2007.

Jon Carter: Rewind to 1996

On October 9, 1996, one of the most bizarre matches in football history was 'played' at the Kadriorg stadium in Estonian capital Tallinn. Scotland had travelled to the country for an important 1998 World Cup qualifier, but a row over the poor standard of the floodlights at the stadium resulted in FIFA changing the kick-off from 6.45pm to 3pm local time. The Estonians refused to change their plans so, at 3pm, Scotland kicked off against nobody and the referee ended the game after just three seconds.

Americans Abroad: Clint Dempey helps Fulham to crucial wins and Jozy Altidore has quiet weekend after weekday goal

Dempsey was instrumental as Fulham scored victories in Europa and league play, while Altidore scored in AZ's Europa League victory.

Big day for Tim Chandler in Germany

The Full List

The Big Interview: Micah Richards

The right-back is in the shake-up to play against Montenegro and cannot wait to reclaim a regular place for his country.

How Europe's fearsome four have eased their way through to Euro 2012

Holland, Germany, Spain and Italy look in supreme shape ahead of next summer's finals.

Sir Alex Ferguson worried by Manchester United away ticket allocation

Sir Alex Ferguson has written to Manchester United's supporters to urge them to improve their behaviour at away matches or risk their ticket allocations being slashed.

Ferguson has become personally involved after United learned that their usual 3,000 allocation for the game at Liverpool on 15 October has been reduced to 1,960 because of problems involving their supporters at recent matches.

Sir Alex's Letter

Sid Lowe in Spain

Every now and again soccer players talk like soccer fans. It doesn't happen very often -- years in the game see to that, familiarity too -- but sometimes their eyes widen and enthusiasm flows; sometimes, they too look at another player and can't help smiling. There are moments in which even those inside the game offer the simplest of descriptions: "wow, what a player he is." It doesn't happen very often, so when it does it leaves a mark; there is something a little special about it. There is joy but there is also a kind of authority to the judgment when it is offered so unreservedly, so wholeheartedly -- and when it is not offered as an interviewee's answer but in conversation. Ruud Van Nistelrooy has seen plenty of good players over his career and has played with some of the best so when, before the season has even started, he smiles "what a player Santi [Cazorla] is" it means something. Something good.

Van Nistelrooy is not alone. Other players at Málaga agree.

Belgium's "Golden Generation" hits a rocky road on the way to Rio

The idea that Belgium could have an outside chance of winning the 2014 World Cup might seem strange to anyone who considers its lack of recent success and a domestic league suffering from low budgets and poor stadiums.

However, a look at the current squad shows that for the first time in 20 years there is talent to spare: Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Steven Defour, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Moussa Démbéle; the list is endless. This sudden blossoming of talent though is more by accident than design.

The Race to the Euros

By Tuesday evening we'll know the 12 of the 16 nations which will participate at Euro 2012. Poland and Ukraine will be there as hosts of the tournament, while Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain can already book their flights. Though mathematically Netherlands could still finish below Sweden in Group E, they would be guaranteed the remaining automatic spot as the best runner-up.

The eight group winners qualify automatically along with the best runner-up. As three groups only have five teams, the groups with six teams will have the record of the team finishing bottom of the group ignored to calculate the best runner-up.

We take a group-by-group look at who can still qualify, and how they can get to the finals. Head to head record comes before goal difference in this qualifying campaign.

Wayne Rooney's Dad Arrested

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney's father and two other members of his family have been arrested in connection with the investigation into betting irregularities that has also seen Motherwell's Steve Jennings taken into custody. Rooney senior, 48, was arrested at his home in the West Derby area of Liverpool, while uncle Richie, 54, has also been detained, according to the Daily Mirror. Later, it was revealed that cousin Thomas was also being questioned.

Trend Continues, Fire Crap the Bed, Sounders Win US Open Cup

For the third year running the Seattle Sounders hosted the US Open Cup final at home and destroyed the Chicago Fire, winning their third consecutive US Open Cup. Seattle played well and more importantly are comfortable moving the ball on their awful plastic pitch. The Fire spent the entire game falling over, failing to trap the ball and watching as all of their passes were either hit too hard to too lightly on the field turf. Sean Johnson played out of his head in goal to keep the Fire in the game and at one point after the Sounders hit maybe their third post of the game it looked like fate was conspiring against them, but Freddy Montero finished a rebound in the 78th minute and they added a second on the break in injury time just to kick the Fire in the nuts.

Frankly I see this trend continuing. Seattle's financial clout allows them to outbid anyone else in the cup to host matches and they are extremely difficult to beat playing the pinball game that their football stadium demands. Perhaps one of the other northwest teams that also play on plastic may be able to compete but until those teams are competitive from a quality standpoint it's not going to happen.

Therefore I congratulate you Sounders fans on winning the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Cups as well as wrapping up this year's trophy. You are the best fans in the league by far, we know because we hear you tell yourselves that every day. Good luck playing on grass in the playoffs, I know it doesn't really work so well for your team.

Tim Vickery in South America

South American giants set for 'super-classic'