Papiss Cisse Interview

Not you, dumbass...

As the latest owner of the iconic Newcastle No. 9 shirt announced his arrival on Tyneside with a stunning winning goal against Aston Villa last Sunday, a new Geordie hero was born in an instant. Papiss Cisse could not have dared to dream that his first game following a £9 million move from Freiburg would end with a strike that is likely to be listed as a contender for Premier League goal of the season, with his sparkling start to life at Newcastle apparently whetting his appetite for more.

England: Premier League Previews & Predictions

Manchester United host Liverpool; Manchester City go to Villa; Spurs face Newcastle; Arsenal travel to Sunderland; Everton host Chelsea; Fulham welcome Stoke

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Manchester United vs. Liverpool
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Preview II
Key Battles


Team News


Lawro's Previews
Paul Merson's Previews

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin expects a strong AC Milan despite the Rossoneri having to do without the team's leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the two sides meet on Saturday. League leaders Juventus visit Bologna on Sunday holding a one-point advantage over Milan but with a game in hand. Last weekend's 4-0 defeat to Roma was Inter Milan's second loss in three games. The Nerazzurri host bottom side Novara on Sunday knowing that anything but a win could see them fall further down in the standings. Inter are fifth and one point clear of Roma, who visit Siena on Monday.

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Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview + Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

Levante midfielder Vicente Iborra believes his side are capable of upsetting La Liga leaders Real Madrid for a second time this season when the teams meet at the Bernabeu. Madrid head into this weekend boasting a seven-point cushion at the summit - although Barcelona could reduce that when they visit Osasuna on Saturday - but Iborra reckons fourth-placed Levante should not be written off.

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Quiniela

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Final Preview: Ivory Coast vs. Zambia

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is down to its last two teams. The Ivory Coast and Zambia have survived the winter tournament and will meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST in Libreville, Gabon, to determine the champion.

Danny Welbeck on debut goal: 'If that feeling was a drug I'd be dead'

This will be the modest young striker's first Manchester United-Liverpool game at Old Trafford – and he cannot wait.

USA vs. Brazil: Landover, Maryland, on May 30

The United States' exhibition soccer game against Brazil will be played May 30 at Landover, Md. The game was announced Jan. 12 as part of Brazil's three-game U.S. trip, with the site and date set Thursday by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Grant Wahl: In aftermath of tragedy, Bradley stands in unison with Egyptians

It was nearly 1 a.m. Cairo time last Friday when Bob Bradley called. If you're the Egyptian national soccer coach, as Bradley has been since last September, lack of sleep is understandable these days. On Feb. 1, more than 70 people died in violent clashes after an Egyptian league game between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in Port Said. Bradley was not at the game, having decided to attend a different one in Cairo instead. Like all Egyptians, he was profoundly shaken afterward. "No one comes close to anticipating something like this," the former U.S. coach told me. "The focus has to be on the respect for these families and the overall sadness about a senseless tragedy." Most foreign national-team coaches in Africa would have taken the first flight out of Cairo last week. But Bradley was different.

Steve Wilson: Villans and Heroes

It's turning into a difficult season for Aston Villa's players, management, chairman and supporters. The Villans have taken just 28 points from 24 games this season and sit 13th in the Premier League table. They have not won at home since early November and attendances at Villa Park are down around 10 per cent on last season.

Norman Hubbard: There's No 'I' in Team

Check the details on a lengthy CV and Sir Alex Ferguson has won 37 trophies in his time at Manchester United. Yet his reign has resulted in far more silverware ending up at Old Trafford. Over the past quarter of a century, United have had the PFA Player of the Year 11 times and the recipient of the football writers' award on a further six occasions. This season may be very different. United's indefatigability could earn Ferguson a 13th league title, if not the title of manager of the year, which ought to be contested by admirable overachievers Alan Pardew, Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers. When the recognition of playing excellence comes, it is still more unlikely there will be celebrations at Old Trafford.

Louise Taylor: Parker or Gerrard, and other questions facing England's new manager

Whoever the FA appoint to succeed Fabio Capello will have an in-tray full of issues to settle ahead of Euro 2012.

Sam Kelly in Argentina

In Buenos Aires, the humidity is stultifying and Tuesday night brought an immense thunderstorm that will at least break it and make the city bearable to live in for a couple of days before temperatures start climbing again. The timing was fantastic, because that storm came on a perfect night to stay indoors in front of the television; a midweek evening of football starting at 6:30 and carrying on until after midnight. Yes, folks, the Copa Libertadores is back.

The Mavericks: Frank Worthington: All Shook Up

Described by his former manager Ian Greaves as "the working man's George Best", Frank Worthington made no secret of his taste for birds, booze and the beautiful game. He was a self-confessed "individualist", though that much was apparent from his appearance, his sideburns and dress sense drawing clear influences from his Elvis Presley obsession. He once told the Daily Mail that "the way I played is more important than the team winning", and would speak out when frustrated by the lack of ability among his team-mates. "Some players' second touch is a sliding tackle," he once said. "Other players control the ball further than I can kick it."

Spain: Barcelona beats Valencia to advance to Copa final

Cesc Fabregas scored one goal and set up another as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Lionel Messi lobbed a long pass that Fabregas chased down and deftly chipped over goalkeeper Diego Alves for Barcelona’s 15th-minute opener. And after Sofiane Feghouli left Valencia with 10 men late on after receiving his second booking, Fabregas set up Xavi Hernandez to send Barcelona through 3-1 on aggregate.

Sid Lowe: Athletic Bilbao bids farewell to the historical San Mamés Stadium

San Mamés bode farewell to the Copa as only San Mamés could. This is their competition and this was their way. Athletic Bilbao qualified for their 37th final with a 6-2 win over Mirandés that one newspaper aptly described as "a homage to the Cup."

African Cup of Nations: Semifinal Reports

Zambia 1 - 0 Ghana
Report
Jonathan Wilson: Zambia book date with destiny
Ghana players rally to support Gyan


Mali 0 - 1 Ivory Coast
Report

England: Capello Resigns

Fabio Capello has resigned as England manager, the Football Association has confirmed. Capello quit after a meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne at Wembley.An FA statement read: "The Football Association can confirm that Fabio Capello has today resigned as England manager."

Henry Winter: Redknapp the only choice
Kevin McCarra: A bullying autocrat
John Brewin: No backward glances
Dominic Fifield: Terry the problem that never went away
Tom Fordyce: No love lost


Capello exit makes waves in Italy


More World Media


Highs and Lows of Capello's Reign

African Cup of Nations: A life less ordinary

Almost anywhere in the world you can get a t-shirt with a variation of the expression, "Football is life, everything else is only detail," emblazoned on it. In most places the actual meaning of that slogan is nothing. It's cute, it's catchy, it speaks to the dedication, commitment, passion and even obsession of lovers of the game but it still does not amount to anything but words.

Tim Vickery on South America

This year's major international tournament, the European Championship, was first disputed in 1960 - which makes it a mere youngster in comparison with the South American version, the Copa America, held as far back as 1916. But in terms of club competitions, rather than national teams, the seniority is reversed. The competition now known as the Champions League, originally the European Cup, first kicked off in 1955. The South American equivalent, the Copa Libertadores, only came to life five years later - and was a conscious attempt to emulate the European competition, so that the champions of football's two traditional continents could fight it out for the world title.

Uli Hesse in Germany

So far, almost all of these weekly reports from the Bundesliga have dealt with teams in the title race or a relegation fight. Which is only natural, as mid-table mediocrity rarely makes for heated debates. Sometimes, however, being average can be interesting.