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2010 World Cup
- Under-pressure Argentina coach Diego Maradona has announced that he might quit after must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.
- Argentina coach Diego Maradona was accused of making fatal errors in selection and tactics on Thursday, as the soccer-mad country contemplated the humiliating prospect of missing out on the World Cup.
Having succumbed to only their second home defeat in World Cup qualifying history against Brazil on Saturday, Argentina face a make-or-break trip to Paraguay on Wednesday.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien scored as Ghana defeated Sudan 2-0 in Accra on Sunday to become the first African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.- Five-time champions Brazil, inspired by Real Madrid superstar Kaka, qualified for the World Cup finals thanks to a 3-1 win over bitter rivals Argentina.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most expensive footballer, faces a tense World Cup survival battle this weekend as Portugal, semi-finalists in 2006, desperately seek to prevent their 2010 campaign from suffering a humiliating derailment.
Frank Lampard believes England are finally ready to deliver at the World Cup thanks to Fabio Capello.- Egypt revived hopes of appearing at the World Cup for the first time in 20 years with a 3-0 triumph over Rwanda in Cairo on Sunday.
- Fabio Capello has confirmed that Peter Crouch will lead England's attack in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine after once again dashing Michael Owen's hopes of an international recall.
- On Wednesday, reigning world champions Italy have a top-of-the-table clash with Republic of Ireland in Bari, 1998 winners France complete a double-header at home to Lithuania and European champions Spain meet Turkey in Istanbul in World Cup qualifiers.
Fans stampeded in an Abidjan stadium during a World Cup match featuring top European-based stars on Sunday, killing at least 19 people and injuring 132, a minister said.- David Beckham set his sights on a starring role at the World Cup after earning a record-breaking 109th cap in England's 4-0 friendly win against Slovakia.
- World Cup winners Italy, European title-holders Spain, France, Germany and Holland showed the footballing fraternity on Saturday that the established nations are only getting stronger.
World football governing body FIFA banned Ethiopia from the 2010 World Cup on Friday after the long-running power struggle within the sport in the African nation failed to be resolved.- The United States, Mexico and Costa Rica remained unbeaten in the semi-final phase of regional World Cup qualifying on Wednesday, continuing their march toward South Africa 2010.
- Hat-tricks by Theo Walcott and Miroslav Klose saw England to a crushing 4-1 win over Croatia and Germany a facesaving 3-3 draw with Finland respectively in Wednesday's second batch of European qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
