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Drogba to face Essien in African Nations Cup

soccernet.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:52:34 GMT

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will go head to head with team-mate Michael Essien at the African Nations Cup in Angola after Ivory Coast and Ghana were drawn together in Group B.

Plymouth makes strong case for 2018 bid

Harry Harris, Football Correspondent — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:04:10 GMT

ESPN Soccernet has been told Plymouth is the shock contender to host World Cup ties should England's 2018 bid prove successful.

Police allege Champions League fix attempt

Reuters — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:01:09 GMT

A match-fixing ring with more than 200 suspected members fixed or attempted to fix dozens of matches across Europe, including three in the Champions League, German police said on Friday.

Cudicini discharged but will not play this season

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:23:45 GMT

Carlo Cudicini has been discharged from hospital but the Tottenham goalkeeper is unlikely to feature for the remainder of the season as he continues his recovery following a motorbike crash.

Henry: Replay the "fairest solution" for Ireland

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:07:18 GMT

France captain Thierry Henry has admitted replaying the World Cup qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland would be "the fairest solution".

Wenger "not a fan" of Van Persie's placenta cure

soccernet.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:49:52 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not a fan of alternative medicine - but accepts whatever makes a player comfortable can only help the healing process.

Ireland result sees France rise in FIFA rankings

soccernet.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:38:11 GMT

France have risen two places in the FIFA world rankings following their controversial World Cup play-off win over the Republic of Ireland.

Calf injury rules Juve's Trezeguet out for a month

Reuters — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:23:14 GMT

Juventus forward David Trezeguet will be out of action for about a month because of a calf injury sustained in training, the Serie A club said on Friday.

Barcelona defender Abidal struck by swine flu

soccernet.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:29:55 GMT

Barcelona have confirmed defender Eric Abidal has contracted swine flu and midfielder Yaya Toure has shown symptoms of the virus.

FA may explore possible Wembley sponsorship

Harry Harris, Football Correspondent — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:21:04 GMT

The Football Association are giving serious consideration to the highly contentious issue of naming rights for the iconic Wembley Stadium.

Ferguson plays down Ferdinand injury fears

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:03:08 GMT

Manchester United are confident that Rio Ferdinand's fitness struggles will be solved in the next few weeks, despite suggestions that the defender could be sidelined for a prolonged period of time.

Smith out of the running to become Scotland boss

soccernet.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:25 GMT

Rangers manager Walter Smith has ruled himself out of the running to become boss of Scotland for a second time.

FIFA rejects replay request to end Irish hopes

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:21:45 GMT

FIFA has ruled that the World Cup play-off between the Republic of Ireland and France cannot be replayed.

Keane tells FAI: "What goes around comes around"

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:08:55 GMT

Roy Keane has criticised the Football Association of Ireland and chief executive John Delaney, stating in his own inimitable style that "what goes around comes around" in wake of the country's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Pearson praises Brown for poise under pressure

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:10:01 GMT

Phil Brown has earned the praise of Hull City chairman Adam Pearson for the way he has responded to recent adversity and remained calm under intense pressure.

Domenech bemused by Henry handball outcry

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:03:20 GMT

France coach Raymond Domenech has defended Thierry Henry against accusations of cheating and claimed he cannot understand why the striker and his team-mates have been so vilified in the wake of their controversial World Cup qualification.

Villa defender Bouma suffers injury setback

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:24:06 GMT

Wilfred Bouma's return from injury has been delayed again following news that the Dutch defender has suffered a toe injury.

Insua insists Liverpool revivial must start now

Soccernet staff — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:45:17 GMT

Emiliano Insua has urged his Liverpool team-mates to make the international break a line in the sand as they seek to turn around their disastrous campaign in a week of season-defining matches.

German police reveal European match-fixing probe

Soccernet staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:39:06 GMT

Police in Germany and abroad have made several arrests and conducted searches on suspicion of an international illegal betting ring allegedly fixing matches in top European leagues, Bochum prosecutors announced on Thursday.

Bundesliga: Bayern face "game of the season"

soccernet.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:36:39 GMT

Bayern Munich are preparing for the "game of the season" this weekend, according to their general manager Uli Hoeness.

Irish request replay

soccernet.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:42 GMT

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over the controversial World Cup play-off defeat to France and have urged world football's governing body to replay the match.

Phil Neville: I would never join Manchester City

Soccernet staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:38:26 GMT

Everton captain Phil Neville has ruled out ever playing for, or going on to manage, Manchester City, revealing he hated the Eastlands club when he was growing up.

FIFA to investigate Egypt over Algeria bus attack

Soccernet staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:20:06 GMT

FIFA today opened disciplinary proceedings against the Egyptian Football Association after the Algerian team bus was pelted with stones in the lead-up to the World Cup qualifier between the two teams last Saturday.

Laszlo wants Scotland job

Soccernet staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:02:50 GMT

Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo has revealed he would be "honoured" to become the new Scotland manager and is prepared to open talks with the SFA.

Euro 2012 qualifying seedings announced by UEFA

Soccernet staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:39:27 GMT

The Euro 2012 qualification seedings have been announced, with Croatia a surprise inclusion in the group of top seeds.